“Mr. Rover’s served enough, what do you mean he’s still enlisting?” – every EXO-L right now.
On May 3, 2023, EXO-Ls around the world were greeted with the most unexpected news: EXO Kai will be enlisting on May 11, 2023. His agency, SM Entertainment, relayed the news to media outlets with the statement:
“Hello. This is SM Entertainment.
We have come to relay sudden news to fans regarding Kai’s military service.
Kai was preparing for EXO’s comeback scheduled for this year, but due to a recent change in regulations of the Military Manpower Administration, he is set to enter the army recruit training center on May 11 where he will receive basic military training, and he will then serve as a public service worker.
In respect of Kai’s intention to enlist quietly, his enlistment location and time will not be revealed, and there will be no special event on the day of, so we ask for the understanding of fans.
Regarding the plans for EXO’s album, we will inform you once the details are sorted out.
Thank you.”
Kai is the seventh member of EXO to be serving in the military, following the older members who had enlisted in this order: Xiumin, D.O., Suho, Chen, Chanyeol, and Baekhyun.
With this unforeseen news, EXO-Ls are (still) in shock, denial, and in a state of disarray. Everyone knew it was coming eventually, but not too soon—especially not when it’s supposed to be EXO’s full group comeback in 5 years.
Jongin has been preparing for EXO’s comeback scheduled for this year, but due to a recent change in the MMA regulations, he will enlist in the army recruit training center on May 11, 2023 to undergo basic training before fulfilling his military service as a public service worker.
— 쉰花 ❄️ (@xunhuas) May 3, 2023
SM Entertainment confirms EXO Kai to enlist into the military on May 11
Following basic military training, he will start his alternative duties as a social service worker
Thus, he wouldn't be able to join upcoming EXO's comeback this year
Source: https://t.co/rrD8R82l2Z pic.twitter.com/OyMdHDyob4
— The Seoul Story (@theseoulstory) May 3, 2023
Bat mageenlist e cebuano yan?!pic.twitter.com/Jtm8pBYlUp https://t.co/LRnNsiaTos
— EX𝓞 but Fil𝓞 (@ExoButFilo) May 3, 2023
JONGIN CAN'T GO HE SERVED ENOUGH pic.twitter.com/pmrEBSJUTZ
— enemy of the state (@metrojongin) May 3, 2023
everyone older than jongin has to go now IDGAF
— lara (@dyodayas) May 3, 2023
Anyone who was an exol in 2021 knows how jongin was alone carrying exo's name everywhere and how he missed everyone so much, no one would've been more happy for this cb than him but they're taking him with a sudden notice???
— a. (@exorelics) May 3, 2023
that was supposed to be the BEST exo comeback i mean 3 mvs?? something like pathcodes???? all members??? sooo many new songs??? IM FURIOUS
— emilka (@onyourbh) May 3, 2023
PUMAYAG BA AKO????? https://t.co/qxDHrrZc8i
— Sehun Araullo (@vicentejian) May 3, 2023
i'm gonna miss jongin's smile so much, kai we will wait for you 🤍 pic.twitter.com/1a7QBC2u1h
— maria is seeing sechanbaek ʚɞ (@ohsenh) May 3, 2023
DKB heechan on ji's enlistment news 😭
"Kai sunbaenim is… enlisting? 😅"
"I'm not going to wear military (camo) pants anymore ha… Kai sunbaenim ㅜ"
"I'm lonely 😢" pic.twitter.com/rJVXQBAaSC— head groupgae jungeun (@exo_cyto) May 3, 2023
jongin had such a hard time, his phone broke, can’t talk to his fans on bubble, his apartment door broke, he got sick, can’t do a comeback with his group that he wanted for 3 years so yes we’ll cry all day with him cus damn he didn’t deserved all this shit https://t.co/iIc71Cgu5I
— kai (@zkdlinedits) May 3, 2023
everyone is sad crying after enlistment news
the kim kai : in his own world pic.twitter.com/uaG08eGM6v— suleen★🍂 ‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅J𝓞Ng² R꩜Verʕ-᷅ᴥ-᷄ʔ (@suleen194) May 3, 2023
Kai is enlisting in the military next week….???https://t.co/l1R0g5Wyuo
— Nicolas is happy (litte mermaid era) (@niggaolas) May 3, 2023
The fact that Kai himself only found out about his enlistment on the same day the news was announced has EXO-Ls filled with such emotion that only they can truly understand.
KAI DON'T CRYYY 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/S0myMOnTgC
— 🍒👑 (@pcyxxloey) May 3, 2023
the world does not deserve jongin at all pic.twitter.com/JVh6qnzXqx
— kai smiling (@jonginsmiling) May 3, 2023
KAI WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU
actually me : pic.twitter.com/jXqbOUYH3M— tamara (@fy0urs) May 3, 2023
EXO Kai breaks into tears when announcing his enlistment in a weekhttps://t.co/07Z4Yy31ks pic.twitter.com/pHYXa1fMl6
— pannchoa (@pannchoa) May 3, 2023
– SK decided to suddenly change the rules and make kai enlist next week while exo preparing for their group comeback
– gaon decided to change their rules at the last minute when exo announced to comeback with "THE WAR"
– mama changed their rule and gave EXO award to other artist! pic.twitter.com/Ssn6WUj5xg— @JIU • R𝓞VER (@EX0POP) May 3, 2023
Jongin: There’s so much that I had prepared… That’s such a pity. It can’t be helped. I’m sad that I’m unable to show you what I had prepared but I can just show it after I return. Kai is not going anywhere~
🥺😭
— 쉰花 ❄️ (@xunhuas) May 3, 2023
Kai: Before enlisted, I will threaten company and make sure to let us meet!
— _61bbh 'ㅅ' (@sbbbh61) May 3, 2023
Expectation : EXO Comeback
Unexpected Expectation : Kai Enlistment pic.twitter.com/NrnevMRqcb— Lvyy 🇵🇭🇲🇾 | inactive (@lyy_exol) May 3, 2023
Just for context; Kai also just found out about everything.
👑: "Today is my first day of learning (about the enlistment) as well 😅
So so please understand me…"#KAI #카이 @weareoneEXO #EXO #엑소 #Jongin #종인 #かい #カイ #金钟仁 Kim Jongin #카이버블pic.twitter.com/24nsveAz6Y— EX꩜'sEllie 🐦 (@exosellie) May 3, 2023
Even KEXOLS are also surprised…
“당장 다음주” Or “Literally next week” is trending in South Korea right now, right after the Kai enlistment news… pic.twitter.com/bdXmHeJ43b
— 큥✴︎ (@kyoongpride) May 3, 2023
kai cried because he prepared a lot of things for his fans, but they can’t be pushed through because of the abrupt notice of his enlistment. if you are thinking about other reasons, then it’s a YOU problem. I’m sorry if your fave didn’t care for you that much.
— chan (@chaniexo_) May 3, 2023
i think it hurts more bc we were expecting to finally get an exo comeback once again after yeaaaars but the enlistment is so sudden that kai won’t be able to participate in cb promotions. 🥺
let’s just hope they keep whatever content kai pre-filmed for the upcoming album 🥺🥺🥺
— rinrin ᕱᕱ (@MYEONFlNlTY) May 3, 2023
I guess it's not just us but the whole kpop industry is shocked with Kai's enlistment news bcs he's literally an idol to other idols 😭🤚
— Alice (@lilililis_k) May 3, 2023
Other fandoms can say what they want about it, call their own faves as “real men” for not delaying their enlistment, but that’s all irrelevant. The reason for all of EXO-Ls emotions right now is how this is all happening without any warning at all.
Maybe, for once, let’s not make this into a fandom war related thing?
Other POP! stories that you might like:
‘LALISA’ is the first-ever album by a female K-pop soloist to surpass 1 billion streams
A’TINs rejoice online as SB19 presents trailer of new EP ‘PAGTATAG!’
Internet expresses dismay over Flounder’s look in ‘The Little Mermaid’ live-action movie
