Omona Original - 10 Actors Who Enlisted in 2017
2017 has been rough for actor fans. Multiple leading man, including some of Omona's faves, have enlisted into mandatory military service this year. These actors have had their fair share of great roles and awful dramas and movies. Now's a perfect time for you to discover actors you've never seen before, figure out which dramas to watch and which to avoid, and get excited for their comeback projects.
Seo In Guk
Original Sexy King Seo In Guk enlisted on March 28, only to be exempted for health reasons on June 14. Seo In Guk won the first season of Superstar K in 2009 before beginning his acting career in 2012 with Love Rain and appearing in the iconic K.Will MV "Please Don't...". If he's smart, he will lay low until his enlistment time is over to make a comeback.
To Watch: SIG has pretty consistently picked good roles and has charisma off the charts while acting. Shopping King Louis is an adorable fluffy drama, I Remember You/Hello Monster is intriguing with good character relationships, and Reply 1997, the breakout drama for SIG and Eunji. Also listen to BeBe, the best underrated track of 2016.
To Avoid: High School King of Savvy if you don't want to see a relationship between a high school boy and a grown woman, The King's Face if you want to watch something good.
Lee Min Ho
Lee Min Ho began his military service on May 12 as a public service worker, due to injuries sustained in a car accident. He began acting in 2003 but hit it big in 2009 with Boys Over Flowers, receiving many endorsement deals and drama roles and eventually releasing two EPs "for the fans".
To Watch: City Hunter, one of OP's all time favorite dramas. Boys Over Flowers, not because it's good, but because it's so bad. This was my first drama ever and somehow I loved it enough to become this drama obsessed mess. (Note: I am not actually endorsing watching this drama)
To Avoid: The Heirs, both a terrible drama and a terrible OTP, only salvageable by a few decent side characters that got minimal screen time.
Joo Won
Joo Won enlisted on May 16, two weeks before his last (obviously pre-filmed) drama, My Sassy Girl premiered. He began his television career in 2010 after making his start in theater and has since starred in many dramas and was a regular cast member on 2 Days, 1 Night.
To Watch: Gaksital (also known as Bridal Mask), set in the 1930s in the Japanese colonial era; Good Doctor, now remade as a successful ABC drama.
To Avoid: 7th Grade Civil Servant was a mess and a half, Yong-pal started so strong and ended so badly, Naeil's Cantabile was a poor remake of Japan's Nodame Cantabile.
Siwan
Im Siwan also enlisted before his most recent drama (The King Loves) aired. He entered the military on July 11. Siwan debuted in ZE:A in 2010 (and if you haven't heard their debut, Mazel Tov, please watch the MV) before starting his acting career. He broke out with his role as Jang Geu Rae in the tvN hit Misaeng.
To Watch: Misaeng, obviously. Hoping for a season 2! The Merciless, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
To Avoid: Triangle, a show with not enough plot to justify its episode extension and a disappointing ending.
Lee Soo Hyuk
Lee Soo Hyuk enlisted on August 10. He debuted as a model in 2006 and debuted as an actor in 2011 after appearing in music videos, including "It Hurts" and "Falling in Love" by 2NE1. He also hosted Style Log with Hong Jong Hyun.
To Watch: White Christmas for a great short drama filled with some of your favorite models-turned-actors; What's Up, one of OP's favorite dramas that nobody else has heard of; Scholar Who Walks the Night, solely because he's playing the vampire he was always meant to be; Valid Love
To Avoid: The Man Living in Our House/Sweet Stranger and Me for being boring, Neighborhood Hero for the lead actor.
Ji Chang Wook
Ji Chang Wook enlisted on August 14. He began his career in musical theater before moving to television. His first lead in a primetime drama in 2011's Warrior Baek Dong-soo. His breakout role was in Empress Ki starring Ha Ji Won.
To Watch: Healer, one of my all time top favorites, nearly perfect and my most rewatched drama. Empress Ki, Suspicious Partner
To Avoid: Bachelor's Vegetable Store for crazy storylines and The K2 for failing to live up to expectations.
Taecyeon
Ok Taecyeon began his military service on September 4, while his most recent drama, Save Me, was still airing. He debuted in 2PM in 2008 and started acting in 2010. He also appeared as a regular cast member in Three Meals A Day for two seasons. Yes, I would consider Taec more of an idol than an actor, but I wanted this list to have an even number, so he's included.
To Watch: Save Me was one of the best dramas of 2017. Dream High is one of my guilty pleasure shows that I absolutely adore, even if the acting is...not great.
To Avoid: Who Are You? relegated Kim Jae Wook to second lead after Taec and for that alone, it must be ignored.
Kang Ha Neul
Kang Ha Neul ruined OP's life by enlisting years earlier than he needed to on September 11. He started his career in musical theater (he's great at singing, love him like I do) before moving to small roles on tv. He landed a second lead role in Monstar in 2013 (and then became my favorite) and started a steady stream of movie lead roles and disappointing drama choices. Kang Ha Neul was originally cast in Bad Guys 2 (premiering this weekend), before dropping out to enlist.
To Watch: Misaeng because it's amazing; Like for Likes for the closest we're getting to a romcom from KHN for a long time; Midnight Runners for the team with Seo Kang Joon; any of his Running Man episodes; Youth Over Flowers Iceland
To Avoid: Nothing. Suffer as I have for KHN on my screen. But really, don't watch Empire of Lust.
Kim Soo Hyun
Kim Soo Hyun began his military service on October 23. He debuted as an actor in 2007 and got his breakout role in Dream High in 2011. He received a Daesang in 2014 for My Love from the Stars. It was announced in 2016 that Kim Soo Hyun had applied to become a bowling professional.
To Watch: My Love from the Stars for his relationship with Jun Ji Hyun; The Thieves so you can watch the fifth highest grossing film in Korean history; his bowling episodes of Infinite Challenge
To Avoid: Real. Just don't even attempt to watch.
Lee Joon
Lee Joon enlisted on October 24 after wrapping up a successful weekend drama Father is Strange. He filmed his first movie role before debuting with MBLAQ in 2009. He left the group in 2014 and focused on acting.
To Watch: Father Is Strange, Heard It Through The Grapevine (which I have not seen but has been highly recommended by multiple Omonians)
To Avoid: Vampire Detective, one of the worst dramas I have ever forced myself to finish. He doesn't even realize he's a vampire for like, the majority of the show. Mr Baek
Sources: Wikipedia 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Thanks showminomoney for the idea you gave me...10 months ago? for this post. Who are your favorite currently enlisted actors? Are you lucky enough to have a fave who has already completed their military service? 18 months until KHN is done!