[Sportschosun Kim Jun-seok] A heartwarming story from actor Kim Mu-yeol's military service is drawing renewed attention as he leads Netflix's global hit series "Teach You a Lesson."
The story has gone viral online after it was revealed that he chose to complete his full term of service, even though he could have been discharged early for medical reasons.
On the 11th, a post appeared on an online community from a user who introduced himself as a fellow soldier who served in a nearby unit with Kim Mu-yeol.
The writer said, "Kim Mu-yeol could have been discharged early because of a leg injury, but he turned it down," adding, "He said he wanted to take on duties he could handle, finish the rest of his military service, and be discharged at the end of his term."
He continued, "Even when he had little time left before discharge, I remember him faithfully carrying out his assigned duties, including standing guard duty for the company," and recalled that "he was truly exemplary during his military service."
Another user who said he had served in the same unit also added support to the story, saying, "Kim Mu-yeol is getting attention again these days, and I remember him as someone who served diligently in the military."
In fact, Kim Mu-yeol was diagnosed in February 2014 with a torn meniscus in his left knee and underwent surgery at Armed Forces Capital Hospital.
He was later deemed eligible for early discharge on medical grounds, but he reportedly submitted a written statement of non-consent and expressed his wish to serve until the end of his term.
At the time, his agency also said, "Kim Mu-yeol's health is gradually improving, and he plans to complete his military service while continuing outpatient treatment." He was discharged as scheduled in July that year.
Meanwhile, Kim Mu-yeol is currently playing Na Hwa-jin, a supervisor at the Bureau for the Protection of Teachers' Rights, in Netflix's "Teach You a Lesson," which was released on the 5th.
He has received praise for his relaxed charisma and powerful action scenes. The series has also been well received, rising to No. 1 in Netflix Global Top 10 Non-English TV shortly after its release.
narusi@sportschosun.com
