Actor Kim Young Dae is set to temporarily step away from his acting career as he prepares to fulfill his mandatory military service this April. The announcement, confirmed on March 25 by his agency OUTERUNIVERSE, marks a significant transition point for Kim Young Dae, who will enlist as an active-duty soldier and is expected to be discharged around October 2027.
For Kim Young Dae, the enlistment represents not only a civic responsibility but also a pause in an already steadily rising career. Reflecting on this period in a previous interview for his dramas To the Moon and Dear X, Kim Young Dae described military service as “a short pause in a long journey,” indicating a forward-looking perspective rather than a sense of interruption. He also expressed his intention to return with greater ambition, aiming to take on roles that align more closely with his artistic goals.
Since his debut in 2017 through the web drama Secret Crushes, Kim Young Dae has gradually built recognition across a range of popular projects. His appearances in Extraordinary You and The Penthouse series significantly expanded his visibility, while subsequent works such as Sh**ting Stars, Moon in the Day, and Boyfriend on Demand further diversified his portfolio. Through these roles, Kim Young Dae has developed a screen presence that blends youthful charm with evolving emotional depth.
As Kim Young Dae enters this new phase, his enlistment comes at a time when his career trajectory has been steadily upward. The temporary hiatus is likely to create anticipation for his eventual return, particularly as he has already expressed a desire to pursue more challenging and personally meaningful roles after completing his service.
With his discharge projected for late 2027, Kim Young Dae’s next chapter remains open-ended but promising. His current body of work and stated ambitions suggest that his return may mark not just a continuation, but a potential evolution in both role selection and performance.
