As much as NCTzens wish NCT boys could stay with them forever, South Korea’s mandatory military service means fans have to temporarily say goodbye to some of our favorite members. It’s never easy seeing idols pause their careers for enlistment, but it’s a proud moment too – they’re serving their country while growing into even more amazing men.
South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve approximately 18 months in the military, and multiple NCT members have already begun their mandatory service.
Formed in 2016 by SM Entertainment, NCT has multiple subunits and a large number of members. This large unit includes rotating members who participate in activities with several subunits. The several subunits include NCT U, NCT 127, NCT DREAM, WayV, and the most recent and final one, NCT WISH.
Below is a detailed timeline of NCT members’ military enlistments and expected discharge dates.
NCT Members Military Enlistment and Discharge Dates
As NCT continues group and unit activities, members will gradually enlist over the next few years. SM Entertainment will likely stagger enlistments to minimize the impact on promotions.
This year, 96’ liner NCT members will enlist, while foreign members will continue activities as usual.
Military Exemption
Some NCT members are non-Korean citizens, which might affect their military service obligations. For example:
- Chinese Citizens: Kun, Winwin, and Xiaojun might not be required to serve in the South Korean military due to their Chinese citizenship.
- Other Nationalities: Members like Johnny (American), Mark (American-Canadian), Ten (Thai), Hendery (Chinese), Yangyang (Taiwanese-Australian), Riku (Japanese), Yushi (Japanese), Ryo (Japanese), and Sakuya (Japanese) might also be exempt due to their foreign citizenship.
Taeyong (Serving)
- Military Enlistment Date: April 15, 2024
- Discharge Date: December 14, 2025
Taeyong was the first member to begin enlistment in April last year as an active-duty soldier in the Navy.
The NCT 127 leader is fulfilling his military service in the Navy’s cultural division, where he was accepted after auditioning with a self-composed song. He is based at the ROK Navy Headquarters in Gyeryong.
Taeyong enlisted after releasing a solo album and holding a concert. He will continue musical activities after his scheduled discharge in December.
Jaehyun (Serving)
- Military Enlistment Date: November 4, 2024
- Discharge Date: May 3, 2026
After making his solo debut in August and releasing a special single, NCT’s Jaehyun was the beloved member to begin his mandatory military service. He applied to be a military band member, and his application was accepted in September last year.
Doyoung
- Military Enlistment Date: December 8th, 2025
- Discharge Date: June 7th, 2027
On the same day as Jungwoo, SM Entertainment announced on October 30 that Doyoung will enlist as an active-duty soldier on December 8, 2025. Following the announcement, Doyoung shared a handwritten letter thanking fans for their support and asking them to continue cheering for him and the rest of the group during his service.
Jungwoo
- Military Enlistment Date: December 8th, 2025
- Discharge Date: June 7th, 2027
On October 30, 2025, SM Entertainment confirmed that Jungwoo will enlist on December 8, 2025, having been accepted into the Army Band for his mandatory military service. After the announcement, Jungwoo posted a handwritten letter to fans where he wrote, “I won’t forget the love you’ve given me, and I’ll come back showing an even better version of myself.”
Note: This is a developing story, and updates will be added as available.
