FT Island's Minhwan recently talked to his mom about his reservations about enlisting for the military. The Kpop idol shared his fears about leaving his wife Yulhee, and three kids for 21 months to fulfill his mandatory service.
According to a report by All Kpop, Minhwan shared his concerns about his upcoming military enlistment with Sleepy and his mom and said that he feared that as soon as his twin babies were born, he would be forced to leave their side to serve the military.
He was worried about his wife, Yulhee, who will be left to care for three kids on her own. Minhwan also expressed worry over FT Island's comeback which will face more delays the longer he puts off his enlistment.
In response, Minhwan's mom allayed his fears and encouraged him to go through with his enlistment. She admitted that it will be difficult for Yulhee to wait a long time for her husband, but its not a shame to go to the military.
Minhwan and former LABOUM member Yulhee are one of the couples who regularly appear on the show My House Husband, a reality show that chronicles their married life.
It can be recalled that rumors recently spread about the possibility of Minhwan's exemption from military service because of having three children, Soompi reported.
However, the Military Manpower Administration debunked the rumors and clarified that individuals are not exempted from mandatory service on the sole basis of the number of children they have.
Based on the updated rules released by the MMA, a person will only be eligible for a military exemption if their family has no one else to support them and they have at least one dependant.
Individuals should also prove that they have less than 68.6 million won (approximately $56,458) and less than 1,845,414 won (approximately $1,520) income per month for a four-member family. These criteria disqualify Minhwan from exemption since his family can work and make money during his 21-month enlistment.
In consideration of his family's situation, Minhwan could serve his time as a reservist and apply for deployment on areas like homeland defense where he could commute home daily. However, he would still need to fulfill his basic military training as an active-duty soldier.
Last September 30, FT Island's Lee Hong Ki enlisted in the military and reported to the recruit training center of the 21st Infantry Division. He cheerfully bid goodbye to 500 fans who saw him off and promised to return in good health, Soompi reported.
