Actor Cho Byeong-gyu plans to wrap up his acting work for the year and enlist in the military.
Speaking on the YouTube channel "One Mike" on Sunday, Cho said, "After the play ends, I have a musical, and once that is done, I am putting acting on hold for the year and preparing to enlist."
"About two years ago, I applied for the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army. I passed the English test but was not selected in the lottery," he said. "If I had gone then, I might not have been able to do this play, so I think of it in a positive light. Right now, I am thinking about going into the Army instead."
Cho said he had recently parted ways with the agency he had been with for about 13 years, calling it "a truly beautiful farewell."
"The company was with me through everything — from my debut to the good times and the hard times — so I feel nothing but gratitude," he said, adding, "I never got the chance to properly express that, so I want to use this opportunity to say thank you. We are still in touch."
"After being with one company for so long, it was not easy to find a new one to join," he said. "Since I am going into the military anyway, I am also considering figuring it out after I get back."
Meanwhile, Cho rose to fame through drama series such as "Hot Stove League" and "The Uncanny Counter," but faced school violence allegations in 2021. Cho's side denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit seeking damages. After losing the first trial in September of last year, he appealed and the legal dispute continues.
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