Minhyuk from MONSTA X / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

By Pyo Kyung-min

Minhyuk, a member of the K-pop boy band MONSTA

The 30-year-old began his service on April 4 last year and during that time served for 18 months with the Republic of Korea Army’s 5th Infantry Division.

In a statement from his agency Starship Entertainment on Thursday, he reflected on his military experiences and thanked his fans.

“During my military life, I was able to grow a little more as a person, and it was a precious and valuable time in my life,” Minhyuk said in the press release.

“Knowing that I had a team to return to gave me strength…From now on, I will make sure to repay you all with better news and more diverse performances, since you have all waited so long for this,” he wrote.

The press release also included details about Minhyuk’s first official schedule after his release. Minhyuk will host an in-person fan event titled “2024 MINHYUK Fan Event ‘Let’s GO!5rae'” at the YES24 Live Hall in Seoul’s Gwangjin District on Sunday.

Since its debut in 2015, MONSTA With Minhyuk’s return, the group will now operate with a three-member lineup along with currently active members Shownu and IM

Bandmate Joohoney joined in July 2023 and is expected to be released in January 2025. Kihyun and Hyungwon, who are also currently in office, are scheduled to return in February and May 2025, respectively.