Xiumin’s announcement letter to fans reads: “Hello EXO-L~ This is Xiumin! Flowers have been blooming nicely these days. Have you gone out to see them? Flowers are appearing, the weather has gotten warmer, and yesterday was EXO’s seventh anniversary since debut!! I feel gratitude to everyone and everything as I feel that EXO was born at a very nice time. Congratulations again to our members->. To be honest, I am writing today as there is important news I want to share with all of you first. Military duty! I am going to the military on May 7!! ‘I will return in good health.’ I plan on arranging a time for us in the near future so that I can say these words to you directly. We have a CBX concert [in Japan] soon, and we will return after completing it successfully, so please wait just a bit~^^ Then let us all work hard on getting through today, as well!”
Xiumin, 29, whose real name is Kim Min-seok, is the first member of EXO to enlist in the South Korean military. When fans learned about Xiumin’s enlistment, they got understandably emotional and started sending him love. One fan tweeted: “28 days.. in 28 days Kim Minseok a.k.a. EXO Xiumin will start to serve his country for 2 years. Let’s send him millions of encouragement and love EXO-Ls. Fighting Kim Minseok! Serve well your country. We will patiently wait for your return.”
In South Korea, it is required for all males between 18 to 35 to serve in the military for two years. SHINee’s Onew joined the army in Dec. 2018. Before Xiumin enlists, EXO is set to perform in EXO-CBX’s Japanese concert in Saitama, Japan, on April 16 and 17. They’ll also be performing in Kobe, Japan, from April 27 to April 29.
"XIUMIN TO ENLIST IN THE MILITARY NEXT MONTH, MAY 7."
me rn: pic.twitter.com/LBcagyfaFa
— gel loves exo ✨ (@wifenikyungsoo_) April 9, 2019
XIUMIN will enlist (active duty) in the military on 7th May 2019.
me rn: pic.twitter.com/twKly88PQP
— 𝙖 𝙡 𝙚 𝙭 🦕 (@bloomingxiuu) April 9, 2019