Kim Young Dae Enlists in the Korean Military This April

Kim Young-dae (김영대) will begin mandatory military service in April 2026, with his agency OUTERUNIVERSE confirming the news in an official statement on March 25. The 30-year-old actor, who first captured audiences in MBC's "Extraordinary You" (2019) and became a household name through the SBS hit "The Penthouse: War in Life" (2020-2021), will serve as an active-duty soldier in the Korean Army, according to OUTERUNIVERSE's announcement. His discharge is expected around October 2027, placing his return somewhere in the fall of that year after roughly 18 months of service. Kim closes out a remarkable run: he completed two dramas in 2025, starred in the Netflix ensemble series "Boyfriend on Demand" alongside some of K-drama's most recognizable faces, and enters service with over 6 million followers on Instagram. His agency did not disclose the specific enlistment date beyond confirming April 2026.

What OUTERUNIVERSE Confirmed

The agency's statement was brief and direct: "Kim Young Dae will enlist this coming April. He will fulfill his duty to the country as an active-duty soldier," as reported by Soompi on March 25, 2026. No specific date was shared, which is standard practice for Korean celebrity enlistments. His expected discharge falls around October 2027, meaning fans can anticipate his return to screens toward the end of that year or into early 2028.

Kim spoke about the upcoming service in a promotional interview for his 2025 dramas "To the Moon" and "Dear X", as reported by Soompi: "Military service is something all men go through, but it can feel like a short pause in a long journey. After I'm discharged, I want to take on more roles that I'm really ambitious about and can do well."

Nine Years, One Scene at a Time

Kim Young-dae made his television debut in 2017 with the web drama "Secret Crushes: Special Edition" and spent two years building a profile through supporting roles before "Extraordinary You" (2019) gave him his first moment of genuine national recognition. He played Baek Kyung in the MBC high school fantasy drama, a sharp antagonist role that showcased more range than most actors his age could manage and made him a name to watch in the industry. The real breakthrough came with "The Penthouse: War in Life" (2020-2021), the SBS psychological thriller that became one of the most-watched dramas of its era. Kim played Joo Seok-hoon across all three seasons and won the Netizen Award at the 2020 KBS Drama Awards for "Cheat on Me If You Can." His first leading role arrived in 2022 with tvN's "Shooting Stars," finally putting him at the center of the story where he belonged.

The Final Stretch: 2025, Two Dramas, One Star-Packed Netflix Series

2025 was Kim Young-dae's most productive year yet. He appeared in "To the Moon" (달까지 가자), a romantic comedy on MBC co-starring Lee Sun-bin and Ra Mi-ran, followed it with the TVING original psychological thriller "Dear X," then closed out the period in "Boyfriend on Demand" (2025-2026) on Netflix. The series assembled one of the most star-dense casts in recent Korean television, per AllKPop's February 2026 report, with Jisoo leading a lineup of nine virtual boyfriend characters played by actors including Lee Jae-wook, Seo Kang-joon, and Ong Seong-wu. Kim's character: a Joseon-era assassin boyfriend inside a virtual dating subscription app. To the Moon showcased his first romantic lead performance on a primetime MBC series, earning favorable responses for his chemistry work opposite Lee Sun-bin. Dear X demonstrated a different register entirely, leaning into psychological thriller territory that separated it from the lighter fare dominating the late 2025 drama landscape. Three productions in roughly 12 months. He did not slow down on the way out.

When He Returns

Kim Young-dae has been clear about his headspace heading into service. His quote was measured and notably unafraid: "It can feel like a short pause in a long journey." That tracks for someone who built his career methodically, from web dramas to supporting roles to scene-stealing villain turns to leading man. The roughly 18-month timeline puts his expected return in the competitive fall 2027 K-drama season, when several other actors who enlisted around the same time will also be making their way back to sets. What comes next is wide open. Based on his stated ambitions, expect something with weight. He's earned the right to choose. He enters service at 30, an age that represents the beginning of what tends to be the strongest decade for Korean male actors rather than an interruption of it. Actors who return from mandatory service with a filmography this strong typically find the market has been waiting. The right project will find him.