Stray Kids' Lee Know to Enlist, the Group's First Military Service
JYP Entertainment announced on Nov. 5 that Lee Know will enlist, the first military enlistment among Stray Kids members. Attention now turns to how the group stays active.
Image: 티비텐JYP Entertainment announced on Nov. 5 that Stray Kids member Lee Know plans to enlist in the military, the first enlistment among the group's members. The move raises the question of how a team built on group activity will keep its momentum.
The agency has not disclosed his exact enlistment date or the type of military service he will perform. JYP said he may miss some activities before he enlists, but will stay connected with fans through content releases and individual activities.
Lee Know was asked about the subject at the group's album press conference in August. "I believe fulfilling military service is a natural obligation," he said, according to The Korea Times.
A group-first act meets a hiatus
Stray Kids built its global influence mainly through group activities, which makes a member's absence more consequential than it would be for an act driven by solo projects. Attention is now turning to whether the group will expand individual projects after Lee Know enlists.
BTS and SEVENTEEN each took a different approach to managing their military hiatuses, and those two cases are likely to frame the discussion around Stray Kids.
Lee Know was diagnosed with an ankle sprain after the 2025 MAMA Awards, a reminder that the group's schedule can shift quickly around a single member.
The details that would shape any plan, including when Lee Know leaves and in what capacity he serves, remain with JYP.
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Staff Writer, K-pop Groups
Follows group releases, comebacks and schedule news
Drawn to group news that moves fans, Harper West follows idol releases, comebacks and tour announcements, with a close eye on member updates and schedule changes. Their coverage also takes in fashion and debut stories, giving readers a steady view of how the K-pop industry shifts from week to week.
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