The boy group’s manager, MJ, has requested that fans wait for Astro until he returns from military duty, which has caused many fans to become very distraught.
After all, it appears that Astro is the one who will begin their term of military service. Everyone who is born in Korea, including members of every K-pop boy band, goes through an enlisting process that takes place one after another until they have completed their mandatory military service. This time, the rest of the gang continues to promote, with the remaining active members on hand to keep things moving while they are waiting for the newly enlisted member.
In an announcement made on April 9, it was revealed that Astro’s oldest member, MJ (Kim Myung-jun), will take over as the group’s leader for the 2016 boy group from Fantagio Entertainment. He will begin his military service in May of 2022. It is expected that MJ, who will be 28 years old in the next month, will enrol in the military, which comes as a surprise to many of his fans because the singer has been on a break for quite some time owing to health difficulties.
In fact, MJ is the very first Astro member to serve in the military
Following health issues, Michael Jackson stated in January 2022 that he would be taking a break from his Astro and solo activities. As a result of his conscription, fans have expressed their disappointment at not being able to watch the vocalist in Astro’s planned return video. It was reported by Fantagio Entertainment that Michael Jackson will go for basic military training at the training centre on May 9 and will say goodbye to fans till he completes his military service. When it comes to his mandatory enlistment, MJ has decided to join the military band, which will stay for a total of 18 months, excluding holidays.
To limit the spread of Covid, the label also indicated that the place and specific date of MJ’s enrollment would be kept confidential. After hearing the unexpected news of MJ’s enlisting, fans were even more eager to catch a glimpse of the trot singer, who had been on sabbatical for several months before his enrollment. The term ‘ASTRO We Will Never Leave You’ has begun to trend on Twitter, thanks to the efforts of fans. M.J. made his solo debut in November 2021 with the release of the single album ‘Happy Virus,’ which marked the beginning of his new chapter as a solo Trot singer.
‘I’m starting to get emotional.’
At Astro’s recent Aroha fan festival, MJ begged that fans wait for the boy group to reunite and become entire again, which is why, upon hearing the news of his enlisting, fans became upset and began making promises to each other that they would wait for the members to return. “When Michael Jackson announced his enlistment, ngl I considered taking a break till he returned, but MJ doesn’t want us to do that,” one fan explained. He has asked me to assist the other members of the group while he is away. I’m going to be here for a while, Astro. Astro, we will never, ever abandon you.”
“Wake me up on the 8th of November in the year 2023,” another devotee requested. Our hearts go out to you as Uri Eunwoo’s kid, Jinjin’s soulmate, Binnie’s strength, Rocky’s favourite hyung, and Sanha’s criminal partner.” According to another fan, “They are the source of my happiness, and there is no way that I would want to give up my happiness in this lifetime.”
“I made a pledge to myself that I would never leave Astro no matter what.. even if it meant waiting for a long time.” said one fan. “I’m at work and I’m seeing posts about Michael Jackson and ASTRO,” another fan stated. AND I’m getting sad all over again thinking about it, but my sons, we’ll always be here waiting for every single one of you to come back and make us whole again. I love you guys so much.”