Minhyuk of MONSTA X / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

Minhyuk, a member of K-pop boy band MONSTA X, completed his mandatory military service on Thursday and decided to hold a fan event as his first official appearance to thank those who supported him during the hiatus.

The 30-year-old began his service on April 4 last year, during which he served for 18 months at the 5th Infantry Division of the Republic of Korea Army.

Through a release from his agency, Starship Entertainment, Thursday, he reflected on his military experience and expressed gratitude to his fans.

"Through my military life, I was able to grow a bit more as a person, and it was a precious and valuable time in my life," Minhyuk said in the release.

"Knowing I had a team to return to gave me strength ... From now on, I'll make sure to repay you all with better news and more diverse appearances, as you've all been waiting for so long," he wrote.

The release also provided details about Minhyuk's first official schedule post-discharge. Slated for Sunday, Minhyuk will host an in-person fan event titled "2024 MINHYUK Fan Event 'Let's GO!5rae'" at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin District.

Since debuting in 2015, MONSTA X has showcased the charismatic stage presence of its six members, with hits such as "DRAMARAMA," "Love Killa" and "GAMBLER" receiving notable acclaim. With Minhyuk's return, the group is now set to operate under a three-piece lineup, along with currently active members Shownu and I.M.

Fellow bandmate Joohoney enlisted in July 2023 and is expected to be discharged in January 2025. Kihyun and Hyungwon, also currently serving, are scheduled to return in February and May 2025, respectively.