Actor Lee Jong-suk to do alternative military service

A-list actor Lee Jong-suk will begin his alternative military service on Mar. 8. Korea Times file

By Dong Sun-hwa

Korean heartthrob Lee Jong-suk will kick off his alternative military service on Mar. 8, spending about two years away from his followers.

A spokesperson for his agency, A-Man Project, said Tuesday that Lee, 30, will serve as a public service worker.

“He promised he would come back after faithfully fulfilling his military duty,” the spokesperson said.

Lee could not do active duty because of a knee injury (anterior cruciate ligament) that he sustained in a traffic accident when he was 16, according to the agency.

He is starring in tvN's ongoing 16-episode soap opera “Romance is a Bonus Book,” but his absence will not affect the drama since his last filming is scheduled for Wednesday. The other actors will round off their filming by March.

Lee reportedly has to manage additional schedules before he begins service.

Lee debuted as a runway model in 2005 and began forging an acting career after appearing in the 2010 TV series “Princess Prosecutor.” Thanks to the success of shows including “I Can Hear Your Voice,” he has become a leading hallyu star.