Eleven days after announcing his early promotion in the military, SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi shared heartbreaking news with his fans, saying he had sustained a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his knee.
Photo: Hoshi/Instagram
On September 12, 2026, the idol told Carats (SEVENTEEN’s fans) via Weverse that he would miss the scheduled taekwondo demonstration team event and the Ground Forces Festival because of his knee injury.
“While practicing with the Ground Forces performance team, I injured my knee and underwent an examination, and I was diagnosed with a complete tear of my anterior cruciate ligament. As a result, after surgery, I will need to focus on my recovery for the time being,” Hoshi wrote.
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“I worked hard to prepare for these performances because I was truly waiting for and looking forward to them, so I feel very disappointed that I won’t be able to be a part of them, and I’m also very sorry to the CARATs who had been waiting for them,” he added.
The ACL is a key band of tissue in the middle of the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). An ACL tear is a common injury among athletes, often occurring when they stop quickly while running or land awkwardly after a jump, forcing the knee to twist.
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Recovering from a full ACL tear typically takes anywhere from nine months to over a year. The road to healing is arduous; patients usually undergo reconstructive surgery followed by months of intensive physical therapy to regain joint stability and full mobility.
Hoshi’s early promotions
Before his injury, Hoshi had shown exceptional dedication to his military service, earning early promotions along the way.
On September 1, 2026, Hoshi shared his latest achievement directly with fans on Weverse, proudly greeting them with his rank.
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“Loyalty, Sergeant Kwon Soon-young. Thankfully, after serving in the military so busily and diligently, I ended up getting promoted a month early this time as well,” Hoshi said.
The SEVENTEEN member serves in the Army Taekwondo Demonstration Unit, having enlisted on September 16, 2025. Hoshi’s exemplary performance evaluations and diligent service have fast-tracked his rank advancements ahead of standard timelines throughout his service.
Enlistments and current status
Meanwhile, two other SEVENTEEN members recently began their mandatory military service.
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On September 7, 2026—a day before his official enlistment date—SEVENTEEN’s main vocalist, DK, became tearful during a Weverse live stream.
However, he noted that his emotions stemmed not from fear or anxiety, but from the reality of being temporarily separated from his group members and fans.
Male South Korean citizens fulfill mandatory military service lasting between 18 and 21 months, depending on the military branch and assignment. DK is serving as an active-duty soldier in the Republic of Korea Army.
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Mingyu also began his mandatory military service as a social service agent on September 10, 2026. Prior to his start date, Mingyu gained attention on social media after debuting his new buzz cut at the Simmons Gallery Seongsu event in Seoul.
A day before his enlistment, Mingyu also hosted a Weverse live broadcast to bid fans a temporary farewell.
“Carats, I’m starting my service tomorrow, too! Hehe. I’ll serve well and come back healthy,” Mingyu said. “Don’t forget me, okay! I told the members and my friends, ‘Guys, people might forget me, so upload some photos of mine on a regular basis,'” said Mingyu.
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In addition to Hoshi, DK, and Mingyu, members Wonwoo, Woozi, and Vernon are currently fulfilling their military obligations. Jeonghan completed his alternative service in June 2026, while Seungkwan and Dino are scheduled to enlist together in the Army military band on October 26, 2026. Four members—S.Coups, Joshua, Jun, and The8—are exempt from Korean military service due to medical reasons or foreign citizenship.
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