Super Junior member Kang-in entered the Korean army today, as part of fulfilling the country's mandatory two-year military services, with his bandmates and fans waving him off.
The members, save for Kibum and Hangeng who are currently taking a break from group activities, showed up at Nonsan training camp Monday afternoon to see Kang-in enter the military, and took turns hugging one another.
Leader Lee Teuk asked teary fans to support Kang-in, saying "Please support him by telling him to cheer up rather than shedding tears and feeling sad."
"I hope you will keep supporting Super Junior members even when I am not here," a teary Kang-in also said in turn.
"I will try to become a mature person on the inside and out. I will come back as a man who is worthy of being a member of Super Junior," he added.
Over four hundred fans, including some 50 from overseas including Japan and Hong Kong, appeared at Nonsan holding signs that read "You are an eternal superstar, our star", "We will be here waiting" and "We love you, Young-woon [Kang-in's real name]."
"We have no doubt that he will be more active in his career after he gets discharged from the military," the fans were quoted as saying. "We will pray that he stays healthy until he finishes his military duties."
Kang-in, whose real name is Kim Young-woon, is one of the 13 members of popular idol group Super Junior but he recently withdrew from group activities and did not take part in recording the band's latest album "BONAMANA."
He made headlines last October when he was caught drunk driving and fleeing the scene after colliding into two taxis. He turned himself into police several hours later, and was later summarily indicted with a fine of eight million won charged by the Seoul Central District Court.
The singer will receive five weeks of basic training at Nonsan and later be assigned to a military base, where he will serve for the next twenty months.
Super Junior members with Kang-in (center) at Nonsan military training camp in the South Chungcheong Province of South Korea on July 5, 2010.
