Actor Na In-woo has directly addressed the military exemption controversy. However, he only apologized to the drama team and chose to remain silent once again regarding the reasons for his supplementary service classification.
During the press conference for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Motel California' held on the 9th, Na In-woo spoke up when questions about military exemption arose.
Na In-woo first said, "I would like to apologize to the drama team, seniors, and colleagues," bowing his head to the staff of 'Motel California'.
He recalled the moment when news broke in December last year about his military exemption, saying, "The first article came out during the (drama) shoot. I received the call after the shoot in a state of confusion. It was late at night. Since it was a sensitive issue, I had to make a quick decision. Choosing silence was my choice," he stated.
Last month, it was reported that Na In-woo received a 4th-grade supplementary service classification during the military service examination and waited for three years for social service personnel enlistment, but ultimately received a military exemption. His agency stated to Maeil Business Star Today, "He became a military exemption while waiting for social service personnel enlistment." However, they remained tight-lipped about the reasons for his 4th-grade classification.
Na In-woo believes that his popularity stems from his "bright and energetic appearance," stating, "No matter how sick or difficult it was, I couldn't show it, so I tried to appeal more brightly." He added, "While I find it difficult to share personal reasons or medical conditions, I hope you can see me as I am, which is why I spoke honestly."
Na In-woo, who showed signs of being choked up several times while speaking, apologized to the drama team but did not apologize to the public or fans who were waiting for answers. Although he claimed to have spoken "honestly," he only revealed the reason for his previous silence and chose to remain silent again regarding the reasons for his 4th-grade classification.
According to the Military Manpower Administration's physical grade classification criteria, a supplementary service classification is given when there are no issues in daily life, but it is deemed unmanageable in the military. Specifically, this includes cases where height is over 204 cm or under 158.9 cm, serious underweight with a BMI of 14.9 or less, or overweight with a BMI of 40 or more, as well as treatment for conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, and asthma. Additionally, if one has mental health issues such as depression that are classified as 4th grade, they also receive a supplementary service classification. Other reasons include having a high school dropout education, having family members who are deceased soldiers or died in service, or receiving probation or a prison sentence, which also results in a 4th-grade classification.
Given that Na In-woo has demonstrated excellent athletic abilities through dramas and variety shows, it is difficult to conclude that he has physical issues that would warrant a 4th-grade classification. Furthermore, his educational background, height, and weight do not constitute disqualifying factors. As a result, netizens have expressed curiosity about the reasons behind Na In-woo's 4th-grade classification, and complaints have been filed with the Military Manpower Administration through the National Petition.
What the public is curious about is not why he received a military exemption, but rather why he initially received a 4th-grade classification. There have been multiple instances where celebrities or the wealthy have avoided military service for various reasons, even using brokers. While he may draw the line at "personal reasons," he is not obligated to disclose information that falls under personal privacy; however, he must bear the unnecessary suspicion that may arise from this.
The drama 'Motel California,' in which Na In-woo stars, is set to open the MBC drama lineup in 2025. With MBC's recent success in Friday-Saturday dramas, there is high anticipation for this project. If he apologized to his colleagues out of concern that his issues might affect the production, it might have been better for everyone if he had cleared all negative issues before the project began. This is why Na In-woo's choice to remain silent again is disappointing.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
