The sudden news of EXO's Kai's military enlistment has thrown the entertainment industry into turmoil.

On May 3, Kai's agency SM Entertainment revealed, "Kai was preparing for EXO's scheduled comeback this year, but due to recent changes in military regulations, he will enlist in the army training center on May 11. After completing his basic military training, he will serve as a public service worker."

Fans were shocked and saddened by the news of Kai's enlistment, announced just a week before the event. This comes after Baekhyun's discharge from the military in February, with fans anticipating EXO's first full-group comeback in four years. During a fan meeting on April 8, the members hinted that the comeback was imminent, raising fans' expectations. However, with Kai's sudden enlistment, the full-group comeback has been postponed once again.

Kai took to social media after the news broke to communicate with fans and share his feelings. Kai shed tears as fans showed their concern, support, and comfort. He expressed his love for fans, saying, "Time will fly by. I'm sorry that it's so sudden. I'm fine with not resting before I go. I'd love to see fans' faces before I leave. I think I'll miss them. I miss them already."

Kai also mentioned that he only found out about his enlistment on the same day. He asked fans for their understanding, stating, "Today is the first day, so please understand. I'll be smiling from tomorrow. Time will fly by, and I'll be back before you know it. I'll be looking forward to it."

Finally, Kai shared, "I had so much prepared, but it's a shame I can't show you. However, I think it's okay because I can show you after I return. Kai isn't going anywhere. Once I come back, there'll be no more separation. I'll do my best with what I can do before I leave."

Kai's enlistment news has become a significant issue in the entertainment industry. Stars born in 1994, like Kai, are also facing military enlistment this year, making military service a sensitive subject.

SM cited "recent changes in military regulations" as the reason for the enlistment, but the military denied any changes in regulations that day, causing confusion.

Under current enlistment regulations, enlistment can be postponed up to 5 times within a 2-year period. Two of these postponements can be applied for "other reasons," including entertainment activities. The other three are for reasons such as illness or education. However, while these regulations have been applied flexibly in the past, allowing entertainers to postpone enlistment more than twice, it has recently been reported that the regulations are being applied more strictly.

In Kai's case, he had already applied for both "other reason" postponements, making further delays impossible. Consequently, other celebrities facing military enlistment may find their concerns regarding enlistment timing deepening.