| Sungjong is the fourth member of the six-piece group to leave for compulsory military service. Courtesy of Woollim Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Sungjong of K-pop boy band INFINITE belatedly revealed Monday that he had joined military boot camp on July 22.
"I might already be in the boot camp when you read this letter ― I am truly sorry I didn't tell you earlier," he said in a hand-written letter posted on Instagram. "I will stay healthy and come back. Please wait for me and do not forget me."
A spokesperson for Woollim Entertainment, representing INFINITE, said, "Sungjong will kick off his 'social service' duty, an alternative to compulsory active military, after finishing basic training."
It is not known why he was allowed to be exempted from active military duty.
Sungjong, 25, is the fourth member of the six-piece group to leave for the obligatory service.
Leader Sungkyu joined the army in May 2018, with Sungyeol and Dongwoo following in March and April 2019, respectively.
Sungjong debuted as an INFINITE member in 2010 with the album "First Invasion." The band shot to fame with the hit "Be Mine" in 2011. INFINITE initially had seven members including Sungkyu, Sungyeol, Dongwoo, L, Woohyun, Sungjong and Hoya, but Hoya left in 2017.