Jaehyun Discharge Confirmed as NCT Member Completes Army Band Service

NCT member Jaehyun completed his mandatory military service on May 3, 2026, after serving as a military band soldier in the Army. The Jaehyun discharge marks his return to civilian status after approximately 18 months of service, following his enlistment at the Army Training Center on November 4, 2024.¹

Reports from South Korean entertainment outlets described the completion as a full-term discharge from Army service. Jaehyun is now the second NCT member, after Taeyong, to complete his military obligation.²

Jaehyun Completes Army Band Service

Jaehyun’s discharge was reported on May 3 by multiple Korean outlets, including Star News, Money Today, Ilgan Sports, and EToday. The reports consistently state that he served in the Army military band and completed service after entering active duty in November 2024.¹³⁴

Star News reported that fans gathered at the scene to congratulate him on his discharge.¹ EToday also reported that Jungwoo, another NCT member serving in the same unit, appeared at the site and congratulated Jaehyun as he returned to civilian life.⁴

The discharge closes a service period that began after SM Entertainment announced through Weverse that Jaehyun had applied for the Army military band and received an acceptance notice from the Military Manpower Administration. In the official notice, SM Entertainment said that Jaehyun had “applied for the Army military band” and had received confirmation of acceptance.⁵

The agency also stated in that enlistment notice that no separate official event would be held on the day he entered the recruit training center, citing crowding and safety concerns because the site would include many soldiers and family members.⁵ That earlier notice framed his enlistment as active-duty service beginning on November 4, which aligns with later discharge reports identifying November 4, 2024, as his entry date.³

NCT Military Service Context

Jaehyun’s discharge is significant within NCT because he becomes the group’s second member to finish mandatory service, following Taeyong.¹² South Korea’s mandatory military service timeline has affected several members of the group, and Jaehyun’s return changes his individual status from active-duty service member back to civilian performer.

Money Today reported that Doyoung and Jungwoo are currently serving and are expected to be discharged in June 2027.³ EToday’s report added that Jungwoo was in the same unit as Jaehyun and was present for the discharge moment.⁴ The available sources do not provide further official scheduling details for Jaehyun’s post-discharge activities.

Before enlistment, Jaehyun had released the solo album ‘J’ and made his screen debut through the film ‘6시간 후에 너는 죽는다.’² The reports do not state a confirmed comeback schedule, group activity plan, or solo promotion date following his discharge. Under the available source material, his confirmed status is limited to completion of service and return to civilian life on May 3, 2026.

Service Timeline and Confirmed Details

Jaehyun entered the Army Training Center on November 4, 2024, and served for about 18 months as a military band soldier.¹³ His May 3, 2026 discharge was described by outlets as a full-term discharge, meaning he completed the required period rather than ending service early.¹³

The official basis for his military band placement traces back to SM Entertainment’s Weverse notice, which confirmed that he had applied to the Army military band and received an acceptance notice from the Military Manpower Administration.⁵ Later news reports then identified his service branch and role as the Army military band, matching the earlier agency notice.

NCT Jaehyun army band service completion concept

Jaehyun’s return adds another completed service milestone to NCT’s ongoing military timeline. Based on the reports available on May 3, 2026, he has finished his Army military band duty, returned to civilian status, and become the second NCT member to complete mandatory military service.