BIGBANG’S T.O.P To Enlist For Compulsory Military Service Next Year: Reports

BIGBANG’s T.O.P may be enlisting in the army as early as next year, reports said, after the South Korean rap artist’s name was spotted on a list on the Compulsory Police website.

The country’s local media reported that T.O.P, 28, took the compulsory police examination — the 348th recruitment test at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency headquarter — on Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. KST (8 p.m. EDT Monday). In addition to being registered on the website under his birth name Choi Seung Hyun, reports say T.O.P has applied to be a military specialist at the Seoul city hall.

The result of the exam will be posted on the website on Nov. 11. If the K-pop idol clears the tests — which he is reportedly very hopeful of doing — he may enlist as early as the starting of 2017.

South Korea has a policy of military conscription with all able-bodied men in the country obligated to undergo military service for a period of two years. A number of K-pop idols have undergone their military service and currently, Super Junior’s Lee Donghae and Choi Siwon are in service, after enlisting in October and November last year, respectively.

BIGBANG’s four other members — G-Dragon, Taeyang, Seungri and Daesung — are also yet to fulfill their mandatory service. However, reports suggest that the other members will also attempt to enlist in the near future so that the band can restrict the time of their hiatus.

Before T.O.P leaves for the army, the group is expected to make their much-awaited comeback with their last album before enlistment. The third full length album is expected to be released in November this year, reports say.