K-pop star Chanyeol’s enlistment date has been announced, his management company SM Entertainment confirmed on February 26. “Chanyeol will be enlisting as an active duty soldier on March 29. His enlistment location and time will not be revealed, and no special events will take place,” they said.

He will be the fifth EXO member to enlist in South Korean Military, following Xiumin and D.O. who have already been discharged and Suho and Chen who are currently serving, reported Soompi.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men between 18 to 28 are required to enroll in the military for around 20 months. Previously, the only exemptions or deferrals for this was for high-profile athletes and classical musicians. With the momentous rise of K-pop, pop stars are now able to defer until the age of 30 if approved by the culture minister.

Ahead of his enlistment news, Chanyeol recently wrote a letter opening up to fans and expressing gratitude. He thanked them for their birthday wishes and apologised for his radio-silence and causing concern. He went on to promise not to let fans down again and to live up to their perceptions of him.

It was the first time he had expressed his feelings to fans since a controversy four months ago when accusations were made about his personal life.