CIX Member Yonghee to Begin Military Service, Marking a New Chapter for the Group

Yonghee, a member of the K-pop group CIX, is set to begin his mandatory military service.

According to TenAsia's report on the 29th, Yonghee, born on February 17, 2000, will fulfill his military duty at the age of 26. He debuted as the lead vocalist of the five-member group CIX in 2019. A graduate of Seoul Central High School, Yonghee gained recognition early in his career by participating in content where he solved and answered college entrance exam questions, boosting his popularity among idol fans.

This enlistment comes as a surprise, diverging from the group's previously mentioned plans. During the release of their 8th mini-album 'OK' Chapter 1: OK Not' in September last year, CIX held their first round interview since debut, sharing various stories. At the time, the youngest member, Hyunsuk, mentioned, "Nothing is set, but if we do enlist, I would like us to go together." However, Yonghee will be the first to start his military service, not as a group enlistment.

Yonghee is the third oldest in CIX. The leader BX was born in 1998, Seunghun in 1999, Yonghee in 2000, and Hyunsuk in 2001. It is noteworthy that Yonghee, not one of the older members, decided to enlist first.

CIX was the first boy group planned by C9 Entertainment after the conclusion of Wanna One's activities, with Bae Jinyoung as the central figure. Yonghee, known for being the same age and a fellow alumnus of Daekyung Middle School with Bae Jinyoung, drew attention from the start. Bae Jinyoung left the group after his exclusive contract with C9 Entertainment ended in 2024, leading CIX to continue as a four-member group.

Debuting in 2019, CIX has reached the so-called '7-year curse' milestone. Despite the departure of key member Bae Jinyoung, they released their 7th and 8th mini-albums last year but have not announced any new album releases this year.

Beyond his singing career, Yonghee has also shown potential in acting. In 2023, he was cast as the lead in the drama 'The Witch Store Reopening,' alongside former GFRIEND member Yerin. Fans are eager to see what path Yonghee will choose after completing his military service.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr