In 2022, Kim Jong-kook shared his honest feelings about his military service issue on his YouTube channel. His father was revealed to be a soldier who had served for 23 years and an army captain. He was also known to be a man of national merit who participated in the Vietnam War.
Under the current military service law, one child of a man of national merit is entitled to a special military service benefit. With this benefit, he can serve as a public service worker for six months regardless of the results of his physical examination by the Military Manpower Administration. Kim Jong-kook’s father reportedly delayed his application for his national merit on purpose in order to properly send his son to the military.
However, at the age of 20, due to a severe herniated disc, Kim served as a public service worker instead of an active duty. He was criticized for this due to his tendency to show off his muscular body and strength on air.
In response, Kim Jong-look said, “I never thought that military would be a shameful word in my life,” adding, “My father was a soldier and now he is a national merit. Military has always been a proud word, and I never thought I would be ashamed.”
Regarding the situation at the time, Kim Jong-look recalled his medical condition, “The hospital staff told me, ‘Your body should be in the medical textbook’.” After his share, some fans expressed their understanding and support, considering Kim Jong-kook’s honest confession and that his father was a national merit. They argued that the criticism was unfair, citing his service as a public service worker for health reasons and his father’s dedication to the country. On the other hand, some still doubted Kim Jong-kook’s service as a public service worker, citing his muscular body and strong image shown on the broadcast.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong-kook is 44 years old and his father is 79 years old this year
