Shinhwa member Kim Dong-wan speaks to fans and reporters after being discharged from the military in Seoul, South Korea on December 7, 2010. [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]
The 31-year-old singer of the group had served as a public service worker at a district office in Seoul since December 2008.
"I am really happy to be discharged from the military and glad to begin working again", Kim said in front of reporters and fans who gathered to see him. "I will make my return in Korea in January of next year and till then, I will pursue my activities in Japan starting with a fan meeting".
He went onto explain that his appearances on television have yet to be finalized while thanking fans for coming out to see him.
Kim made his debut as one of the lead singers of the six-member boy band Shinhwa in 1998. He also branched out into other aspects of entertainment, appearing in several dramas including "A Farewell to Sorrow" (KBS, 2005) and "My Dearest Love" (SBS, 2007) and movie "Spin Kick" (2004).
He will also sign with agency Live Works Company, who is in charge of managing fellow Shinhwa member Shin Hye-sung and songstress Sunmin, and hold a fan meeting in Seoul at Sangmyung University's Sangmyung Art Center on December 9.
Shinhwa member Kim Dong-wan smiles after receiving flowers from his fans upon his discharge from the military in Seoul, South Korea on December 7, 2010.
Kim and his fellow member Eric Mun will visit Japan to see their fans again. Eric had joined the army first among the members of the group in October, 2008 and finished his duty by serving in the public service sector. After being discharged from the military duty on October 30, he will hold his first fan meetings at Yuport Hall in Tokyo on December 18 and at Archaic Hall in Hyogo Prefecture on December 19. Kim Dong Wan, who is now discharged from the army, will also hold a fan meeting at the Shinagawa Intercity Hall in Tokyo on December 18 to commemorate his military discharge. The tickets for the event had already been sold out right after beginning sales.
Kim will also hold fan meetings in Osaka on December 23 and in Fukuoka on December 26. In particular, Kim Dong Wan will officially debut in Japan by releasing his first solo album entitled “KIM DONGWAN JAPAN PREMIUM BEST” on December 15, and he will hold a live concert to commemorate his album release at the Fountain Square at Ikebukuro in Tokyo on December 16.
In addition, a project hanging orange flags and posters and playing BGM in the region of Shin-Okubo, which is the one of the Koreatowns in Japan and the mecca of Hallyu, will be prepared from December 3 until 19 to celebrate his return.
Reporter : Ko Jae-wan star@
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@
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Source : 10.asiae.co.kr/Articl... ( English Korean ), HanCinema, KBSGLOBAL, Daily K Pop News
