SEVENTEEN’s DK and Vernon Announce Military Enlistment Dates as Group Enters a New Chapter

SEVENTEEN members DK and Vernon are officially preparing to begin South Korea’s mandatory military service. On July 27, PLEDIS Entertainment announced through Weverse that Vernon will begin his military service on August 20, while DK is scheduled to enlist for active duty in the Army on September 8. The announcement marks another significant milestone for the 13-member group as more members temporarily pause group activities to fulfill their national service obligations.

According to PLEDIS Entertainment, both artists will complete all scheduled official activities before entering military service. The agency also asked fans not to visit either enlistment site, explaining that the ceremonies will be attended by numerous recruits and their families. Instead, CARATs, SEVENTEEN’s official fandom, are encouraged to send their messages of support through Weverse, where the members will be able to receive fans’ well wishes before beginning service.

The announcement means that once Vernon and DK begin serving, they will temporarily step away from SEVENTEEN’s group promotions. However, fans won’t be left without new content. PLEDIS revealed that both members have prepared a variety of pre-recorded content that will be released during their absence, allowing them to stay connected with fans even while serving. The company also pledged to continue supporting both artists throughout their military service and asked fans to patiently await their healthy return.

For longtime CARATs, the news is bittersweet but not unexpected. Military enlistments have become a defining chapter in SEVENTEEN’s second decade as a group. Jeonghan became the first member to enlist in September 2024, followed by Wonwoo in April 2025, while Hoshi and Woozi began their service in September 2025. With DK and Vernon now joining them, six members of SEVENTEEN will be fulfilling their mandatory duties, requiring the group to continue adapting its promotional plans while maintaining its identity as a full team.

Despite these temporary absences, SEVENTEEN has consistently reassured fans that the group’s future remains secure. Earlier this month, PLEDIS Entertainment confirmed that all 13 members had officially renewed their contracts for a second time, demonstrating their shared commitment to continuing as a group long after military service concludes. The announcement offered reassurance to fans who have naturally been concerned about the challenges that enlistment periods can bring to large K-pop groups.

DK, known for his powerful vocals and bright personality, has become one of SEVENTEEN’s standout performers since the group’s debut in 2015. Beyond his work with the vocal unit, he has also enjoyed tremendous success as part of the special unit BSS (BooSeokSoon) alongside Hoshi and Seungkwan, earning praise for energetic releases such as “Fighting” and “CBZ (Prime Time).” Vernon, meanwhile, has built a reputation as one of K-pop’s most distinctive rappers, contributing extensively to SEVENTEEN’s hip-hop unit while also participating in songwriting and production throughout the group’s career.

The timing of the announcement also reflects SEVENTEEN’s thoughtful approach to navigating military service. Rather than allowing enlistments to interrupt activities unexpectedly, the group has continued releasing music, touring, and producing a steady stream of content while carefully planning each member’s service schedule. This strategy has helped maintain the group’s momentum even as individual members temporarily step away.

Although DK and Vernon will be absent from future group promotions during their service, their departure is not a farewell. With pre-recorded content already prepared and the remaining members continuing activities, CARATs will still have plenty to look forward to while counting down the days until the group’s eventual reunion.

As SEVENTEEN enters another chapter of its military era, fans around the world are sending heartfelt messages of encouragement to DK and Vernon, wishing both members a safe, healthy, and successful service before they return to the stage once again.