After military duty, Korea's top stars choose streaming over TV
A noticeable shift is underway in how Korea's top male stars stage their return to the entertainment industry after completing mandatory military service. Increasingly, their chosen comeback venue is not a major TV network, but a global streaming platform. This marks a sharp departure from the well-worn path that once defined how a returning star rebuilt public visibility. Actor Song Kang, who…
In Korea, a noticeable shift is occurring in how the country's leading male stars return to the entertainment industry after completing their mandatory military service. Rather than making their comeback on a major TV network, these stars are increasingly opting for global streaming platforms. This represents a significant change from the traditional approach to rebuilding public visibility after military duty.
Actor Song Kang, who achieved international acclaim through Netflix's popular series "Sweet Home," is at the forefront of this new trend. Song is set to make his acting debut in tvN's upcoming series "Four Hands, Two Sonatas," which is scheduled to premiere on August 29 and stream worldwide on Netflix. This marks Song's first acting role since his discharge in October 2025, following a nearly two-year absence from the spotlight.
Interestingly, "Four Hands, Two Sonatas" also serves as the final project for Lee Jun-young, who co-stars in the series and completed his military service on July 21. Lee Do-hyun, who maintained his popularity during his own military stint thanks to his award-winning performance in the 2024 film "Exhuma," is also making a return via Netflix. He will star in the fantasy series "Grand Galaxy Hot."
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- After military duty, Korea's top stars choose streaming over TV koreatimes.co.kr
