Kwak Dong Yeon to Begin Military Service in August 2026

Kwak Dong Yeon, the talented actor from The East Palace, is preparing to enlist for mandatory military service in August 2026. His agency has confirmed the enlistment date, and fans are eager to learn about his commitments leading up to this significant life change. While he will participate in a special variety show before his service, he will not be part of the upcoming season of The Village Barber. With a successful career featuring roles in popular dramas, Kwak's military service will temporarily pause his acting journey, but he is expected to return in February 2028.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 21, 2026, 19:54 IST

Kwak Dong Yeon Prepares for Military Duty

Actor Kwak Dong Yeon, known for his role in The East Palace, is set to take a break from the entertainment scene as he prepares for his mandatory military service. His agency, THEBLACKLABEL, announced on July 21 that he will enlist as an active duty soldier starting August 25, 2026. With this date confirmed, fans are now curious about his schedule leading up to his service. Although he will fulfill some professional obligations before enlisting, there will be adjustments to his upcoming television projects.

Kwak Dong Yeon's Enlistment Schedule

Kwak Dong Yeon is slated to commence his military service next month. The announcement from THEBLACKLABEL followed a report from a Korean media outlet indicating that he had received his enlistment notice. The agency stated, "Kwak Dong Yeon will enlist for active duty on August 25, 2026, and will diligently complete his military service." Prior to his enlistment, he is expected to engage in a few professional commitments, including filming a special variety show for the 10th anniversary of Love in the Moonlight in early August, marking one of his last official engagements before his service begins. However, he will not participate in the upcoming season of The Village Barber, which is set to start filming in late August with Ko Kyung-Pyo joining the cast.

Recently, Dong Yeon made a guest appearance in Netflix's The East Palace. Since his debut in 2012 with My Husband Got a Family, he has appeared in numerous successful dramas, including Love in the Moonlight, My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, Vincenzo, and Queen of Tears. He is expected to complete his military service and return in February 2028.

Kwak Dong Yeon's Career Highlights

Kwak recently appeared as the Crown Prince in the Netflix series The East Palace. He has also won acclaim for his role as the charming Hong Soo-Ceol in Queen of Tears (2024) and received praise for his complex portrayal of Jang Han-Seo in Vincenzo (2021).

Additionally, he starred in the workplace comedy Gaus Electronics (2022), and his earlier performances in Love in the Moonlight (2016), My ID Is Gangnam Beauty (2018), and Never Twice (2019) have solidified his status as one of South Korea's most talented actors.