The Neos will always have our backs. Members of NCT are preparing for their mandatory South Korean military enlistment service.
NCT is a 25-member K-pop boy band under SM Entertainment. The company initially planned for the group to have an unlimited number of members until they announced in 2023 that they would be capping the group after the debut of the subgroup of NCT Wish. NCT has several subgroups: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung, and NCT Wish. Despite being based in Korea, NCT members come from all over the world like the US, Canada, Thailand, China, and Japan— with WayV comprising mostly Chinese members and NCT Wish comprising mostly Japanese members.
Related: SEVENTEEN’s Jeonghan Just Enlisted— Here’s When the Rest of the Members Will Go to the Military
When are the NCT members enlisting?
Here is a list of the NCT members who are enlisting and when they are expected to join the military.
Taeyong
Image Credit: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage Military Enlistment Date: April 10, 2024
Military Return Date: December 2025NCT leader Taeyong enlisted in the military on April 10, 2024. He’s currently serving in the Navy as an active-duty soldier.
Johnny
Image Credit: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AJohnny does not need to serve in the South Korean military because he was born in the United States and is a US citizen.
Yuta
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AYuta does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he was born in Japan and holds Japanese citizenship.
Kun
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AKun does not have to enlist in the South Korean military because he was born in China and holds Chinese citizenship.
Jaehyun
Image Credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: November 4, 2024
Military Return Date: May 3rd, 2026SM Entertainment announced that Jaehyun will enlist in the military on November 4, 2024. In a statement, they said that Jaehyun “applied to join the army military band, and received a notice of acceptance from the Military Manpower Administration.”
Doyoung
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (By 2026)
Military Return Date: To be announcedDoyoung must enlist in the military before he turns 30 on February 1, 2026.
Ten
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/ATen does not have to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Thai citizenship. A lottery is held for Thai men to enlist in their country’s military. However, Ten did not pass the health examination because of a knee injury in 2018, so he is exempt.
WinWin
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AWinWin holds Chinese citizenship so he does not need to enlist in the South Korean military.
Jungwoo
Image Credit: Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (by 2028)
Military Return Date: To be announcedJungwoo must enlist in the military by the time he turns 30 on February 19, 2028.
Mark
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AMark does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Canadian citizenship.
Xiaojun
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AXiaojun does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Chinese citizenship.
Hendery
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AHendery does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Chinese citizenship.
Renjun
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/ARenjun does not have to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Chinese citizenship.
Jeno
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (By 2030)
Military Return Date: To be announcedJeno will have to enlist in the South Korean military by the time he turns 30 on April 23, 2030.
Haechan
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images) Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (By 2030)
Military Return Date: To be announcedHaechan will need to enlist in the South Korean military by the time he turns 30 on June 6, 2030.
Jaemin
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (By 2030)
Military Return Date: To be announcedJaemin is expected to enlist in the military by the time he turns 30 on August 13, 2030.
Yangyang
Image Credit: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AYangyang does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Tawainese citizenship.
Chenle
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AChenle does not have to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Chinese citizenship.
Jisung
Image Credit: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (by 2032)
Military Return Date: To be announcedJisung must enlist in the South Korean military by the time he turns 30 on February 5, 2032.
Sion
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (by 2032)
Military Return Date: N/ASion will need to enlist in the South Korean military by the time he turns 30 on May 11, 2032.
Riku
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/ARiku does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Japanese citizenship.
Yushi
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/AYushi does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Japanese citizenship.
Jaehee
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: To be announced (by 2035)
Military Return Date: N/AJaehee must enlist in the military by the time he turns 30 on June 21, 2035
Ryo
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/ARyo does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Japanese citizenship.
Sakuya
Image Credit: MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images Military Enlistment Date: N/A
Military Return Date: N/ASakuya does not need to enlist in the South Korean military because he holds Japanese citizenship.
