Actor Na In Woo is now free from the pressure of military service after waiting three years for his enlistment.

According to an insider who spoke to Sports Chosun on December 17th, Na In Woo was recently granted exemption from military service after waiting for his call-up for social service.

Na In Woo had been classified as a fourth-class reserve soldier during his military physical examination. He had been waiting for his enlistment, but after not receiving a call-up from the Military Manpower Administration for three years, he became eligible for exemption.

Under the Military Service Act, those classified as fourth-class reserve soldiers are exempt from military service if they are not called up within three years. Since 2019, over 10,000 people, including celebrities like Na In Woo, have received this exemption.

Na In Woo, who gained fame for his role in "River Where the Moon Rises," continued to act in popular dramas like "Jinxed at First," "I’ve Waited a Long Time for You," and "Marry My Husband" while dealing with the uncertainty of his military service.

After "Marry My Husband," he even got permission from the Military Manpower Administration for an overseas trip as a reward for his work. There had been rumors that his current drama "Motel California" would be his last before joining the military, but with the exemption, Na In Woo is now free to take on more projects.

In "Motel California," Na In Woo stars alongside Lee Se Young in a romantic drama about a woman who reunites with her first love after fleeing her hometown 12 years ago. Fans are excited to see what’s next for the actor!

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Actress Seo Hyo Rim has been waiting for her unpaid appearance fees for a staggering four years, and despite winning a lawsuit, the situation remains unresolved. She has yet to receive over 100 million KRW in unpaid wages from her former agency.

Seo Hyo Rim has been suffering from unpaid appearance fees dating back to May 2021. This includes payments for her work in the popular drama The Red Sleeve, the movie Indream, and other variety shows and advertisements.

In 2022, Seo Hyo Rim took legal action against her former agency Majic and its CEO Kim Sun Ok, demanding 89 million KRW in unpaid fees. The court ruled in Seo Hyo Rim’s favor, but the money is still unpaid. With interest, the amount she is owed has now risen to 120 million KRW.

Seo Hyo Rim’s side told Dispatch, “Even after the court ruled in our favor, they just keep saying, ‘We can’t pay.’” They added, “They keep making excuses like paying a little bit every month or saying they’ll pay once they get a lump sum of money.”

In October, Seo Hyo Rim reached out to the Korea Actors Association for help. She submitted a request for mediation and filed a complaint about the unpaid fees.

A Korea Actors Association official said, “We are reviewing the materials submitted by both parties.” The official also mentioned, “Appearance fees are a critical issue for both actors and agencies. We will carefully review all the details based on the facts.”

But why is CEO Kim Sun Ok delaying the payments? She explained, “It’s not that I don’t want to pay, but I just can’t right now.” Kim added that her agency is facing financial difficulties and she does not have the funds to pay Seo Hyo Rim.

In a phone interview with Dispatch, CEO Kim said, “The financial situation has been tough. I promised to pay little by little and to pay back once we have enough money, but Seo Hyo Rim rejected that.”

She continued, “I do intend to repay according to the mediation of the Korea Actors Association.” She also said, “If this continues to get reported, it could affect the other actors under the agency. It’s really hard.”

Meanwhile, another unpaid appearance fee case has surfaced involving the late actress Kim Soo Mi. Her estate is owed 160 million KRW for her performance in the musical Mother-in-Law.

The company involved, Rebyte United, is affiliated with Ilgwang Group, a defense industry company. This company is also facing controversies about unpaid staff wages and a contract dispute with the girl group IDOL.

It seems the battle over unpaid appearance fees is far from over, as Seo Hyo Rim and others continue to wait for the money they are owed.

Source: [1]