Chapter 50

The filming of the movie *Color is Emptiness* took several months, starting in mid-November and wrapping up by the end of January the following year. This year was 2002, coinciding with the quadrennial FIFA World Cup, and more remarkably, about half of the matches of this World Cup would be held in South Korea.

For South Korea, a country permeated with a fervent football atmosphere, this was a monumental event. From the president to ordinary citizens, across all industries, young and old, male and female, everyone enjoyed discussing football. Even the entertainment industry was swept up in a football craze, with various football-related programs emerging, becoming extremely popular.

Under Park Byung-ryeol's arrangement, Jang Seung-woon also participated in several football jersey fashion shows and several celebrity football matches. He even earned peculiar titles such as "the most football-like celebrity," "the coolest and most handsome ball-handling posture," and "best shooter," which made him a sensation once again. However, his close sisters, including Lee Hyori, jokingly called him the "least professional actor."

Due to his football skills, Jang Seung-woon was also pestered by Soo Crystal to teach her sister, Jung Soo-yeon, how to play football. Her sister had recently become obsessed with the sport and practiced diligently after the spring break, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp the essentials. She wanted to ask Jang Seung-woon for help but was afraid of being rejected, so Soo Crystal, seeing this, approached Jang Seung-woon on her behalf. With her intervention, Jang Seung-woon naturally didn't refuse. Notably, after the matter was successfully resolved, Soo Crystal "extorted" a few of her favorite trinkets from her sister.

By the end of February, after the Lunar New Year and his birthday, Jang Seung-woon was preparing to make a big move in the new year and take his career to the next level when an unexpected notice disrupted his plans. This notice was the dreaded military service enlistment notice that almost all South Korean men despised but could not avoid.

Not only did many young people detest the enlistment notice, but male artists in the entertainment industry detested it even more. Many stars who were at the peak of their popularity or whose careers were just getting on track saw their popularity decline and their careers interrupted due to the enlistment order. After discharge, they had to start from the bottom like newcomers. Although a few extremely popular superstars could remain relatively unaffected, they still wasted two of their most valuable years, with the financial losses being incalculable.

However, whether one faced it head-on or tried to avoid it, every physically fit South Korean man had to go through this. The South Korean Military Manpower Administration was not to be trifled with; to set an example, they would ruin the reputation of any celebrity caught deliberately evading military service. The case of Lee Seung-jun in the second half of the previous year was a vivid example.

Lee Seung-jun was one of the hottest singers at the time. Due to certain personal reasons, he acquired American citizenship. This act was immediately deemed by the South Korean Military Manpower Administration as an attempt to evade military service. He was promptly expelled from the country and banned from returning, effectively ending his once-thriving singing career in South Korea. Adding to this, he had previously made a flippant promise to his fans that he would "serve in the military rather than become an American," which led to widespread anger among his fans and the general public, who felt he did not deserve to be a Korean.

Given this precedent, Jang Seung-woon had to take the matter of military service seriously, even though he never considered himself a Korean. To survive in Korea and the world, he could not avoid the identity of this body and had to serve in the Korean military, unless he disabled himself, which would require many years of disability.

Looking at the enlistment notice that read, "Please report to the Army Training Center in Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do, by March 15," Jang Seung-woon was filled with mixed emotions. He knew he had to serve, but he hadn't decided whether to go immediately. Such a significant matter required consultation with his father, Zhang Donghu, and his agency. Of course, his agent, Park Byung-ryeol, was also the decision-maker of the agency, so he only needed to inform him.

Jang Seung-woon immediately called his father, who was on a business trip in Thailand. After hearing the situation, Zhang Donghu did not make a decision for him and straightforwardly replied, "I don't know much about the entertainment industry. When to enlist is up to you and the company. As long as you don't try to evade military service, it's fine." He then hung up the phone, either because he felt his son was grown up and didn't need his worry, or because international calls were too expensive.

Afterward, Jang Seung-woon went to the company to discuss the matter with Park Byung-ryeol. After some consideration, Park Byung-ryeol frankly said, "Seung-woon, from the company's perspective, I naturally hope you can delay your enlistment for a few years, and if possible, avoid it altogether. Delaying is relatively easy, but avoiding it is almost impossible with the company's current resources and connections. As a friend, I think it's best for you to decide, as no one can predict whether enlisting this year or a few years later will be more beneficial for your future career. I can only help you analyze the pros and cons."

"Sure, please guide me!"

Park Byung-ryeol continued, "If you enlist next month, it will definitely interrupt your rising career in the entertainment industry. When you return to the industry after two years, you will face a significant decline in popularity and a lack of fan attention. You will have to start over like a newcomer. After all, the entertainment industry changes rapidly, and two years is a long time. Your status in the industry and in the hearts of the audience is still not solid enough."

Jang Seung-woon nodded in agreement, "That's true. What if I go a few years later?"

Park Byung-ryeol said, "Given your current trajectory, in about five to six years, when you are around 25 or 26, you will likely be a top-tier celebrity. If you enlist then, you will face significant financial losses and a decline in popularity, just as you would now. If you delay it even longer, there will be rumors that you are trying to evade military service, which could damage your reputation. No matter what, when you return and try to resume your career, you will have to work hard to regain your former status. The psychological impact of falling from a high position, the cold treatment from others, and the harsh words will be extremely painful."

Jang Seung-woon asked, "Are there no benefits?"

Park Byung-ryeol smiled and said, "Relatively speaking, after discharge, you won't have to start from the bottom. You will still be a second-tier actor, and with good luck, you might even become the lead in a low-budget TV drama. However, the待遇 will definitely be much worse than before enlistment."

After further discussion, they considered the pros and cons from various angles, and Jang Seung-woon made his decision. He decided to follow the enlistment notice and report to the Army Training Center as instructed. He would find a few friendly media outlets to report on his enlistment, portraying Jang Seung-woon as a model celebrity who bravely fulfills his military duty, enhancing the public's good impression of him. When other celebrities delay their enlistment, the media will likely mention Jang Seung-woon as a positive reference.

When Park Byung-ryeol asked why he made this choice, Jang Seung-woon replied calmly, "I can't imagine being 27 or 28 and still being bossed around by much younger soldiers, or even being ordered to clean the toilets in the barracks. That would be even more embarrassing!"

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