Heartily Prepared

onehallyu.com

SM Entertainment (Super Junior’s agency) recently dropped one enormous bombshell when they disclosed a notice of Kyuhyun’s definite military enlistment date. He’s set to head off to the Nonsan Army Training Center on May 25.

That is two days before his 11th anniversary with SuJu and one before my own birthday. The perfect timing goes on to be the next thing that leaves a sour taste in my mouth after the two-year hiatus. It had been known that he’d be going in this year, but not by a long shot did I have an idea about it being in this special month.

I barely have three weeks to see Kyuhyun out and about before he starts laying low and living under the radar, which is not enough. I didn’t get to hype up his comebacks and lastest releases for a bunch of stuff going on in real life, and have not kept up with his news in forever and a day. 

When I first logged in to Twitter again after a while, my timeline was flooded with news articles about his upcoming big day. I’d sort of deserted him and it just slapped me hard in the face that he is about to go MIA. And as much as my chest is swelling with pride, it’s still hard not to see him in such a long time. Even during group hiatus, the man would still come on TV for his weekly programs, solo promos and other individual activities. 

I cannot think of one particular day in my years of being a fan without a single without a single photo or video of him arriving at airports, attending concerts, going backstage at musicals, etc. week in, week out. We’ve been thriving with at least one new content every day, and now our brains ought to cook up ways to muddle through when this regularity has to stop. Beyond any doubt, the next two years will be a dry spell for us Kyuhyun fans.

One reason that helps me keep my cool these days is because Kyuhyun doesn’t seem like he’s dreading this whole conscription thing. It is a national duty of Korean men to perform the compulsory military service, but would you believe me if I tell you there are citizens who take extreme lengths to dodge draft? I said it repeat, extreme. 

With Kyuhyun though, while he’s confessed sadness over not being able to see fans and worries that we would leave him for the young’uns, he doesn’t place his responsibility to his country on the back burner for such excuses. In perspective of a fan, I reckon it’s the most beneficial for celebrities or entertainers to quickly get it over and done with than evade it.

Negligence of the duty has been a really sensitive issue among Korean public, and once allegations about your desertion are out, be ready for the repercussions:  relentless press coverage and public outcry which can also lead to a thorough investigation from the government that might result in harsh penalties. Chances are, the hostile public sentiment lasts for the rest of your career.

To those wondering, Kyuhyun is disqualified from active duty and will be enlisting as public service worker. It has a lot to do with a car accident that almost cost four SuJu members and several managers their lives in April 2007. In actual fact, the tragedy left them with major injuries. Kyuhyun’s rib bones pierced into his lungs, he went into a four-day coma and was presumed to have only 20 percent chance of survival. For how serious it was, he could’ve been exempt from military service.

Enough with the military talk. 

SM are fixing to suck everyone dry give the fans a consolation pre-enlistment fan meeting, which appears to me that Kyuhyun’s coaxing us into accepting his ephemeral goodbye. The ticket sales (they were sold out within flashing four minutes) reflect people’s determination to see him on stage for the last time before his discharge in two years’ time. Good grief, I can already picture it being a massive cry fest.

kyuhyun.smtown.com

*spends forever gushing over his flawless profile* 

Yesterday, they started disseminating an online form that fans need to fill up, with three questions on it: 1) name and date of birth, 2) song from SuJu or Kyuhyun you want him to sing and your reason, 3) song from other singer you want him to sing and your reason. I failed to comprehend why we get asked about date of birth instead of nationality, I suppose that knowing which part of the world the fans are from is more important for company’s future plans? 

However, knowing it is Kyuhyun, he always gets elated when spotting male and older fans in his concert crowds, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Look at him playing favorites!

The request form

For a song from SuJu or solo Kyuhyun, I went for mid-tempo ballad “Raining Spell For Love” off SuJu’s 7th album Mamacita. A poor middle child whose existence tends to be overlooked, slept on and never has once been performed live—even at their own tour. Not among fans’ favorite and immensely glorified holy trinity with the likes of “Evanesce,” “Islands” and “Midnight Blues,” but easily made my top three without a second thought. Also, Kyuhyun’s got the least lines in it (I know right??), but they immaculately showcase his vocals that can move mountains and save lives. 

For a song from other singer, I weighed it up a lot and could scarcely settle on. Suddenly I conceived this idea of him singing slow rock ballads, like Eric Clapton’s Grammy winning “Tears in Heaven,” but rowed back on it. That was just as my other favorite male singer, Ed Sheeran, popped up in my mind. If can’t get him to sing a rock ballad, then ‘swelling ballad’ would do. 

Nah, not “Shape of You.” 

I plumped for “Photograph.” Alright, but imagine Kyuhyun singing “The A Team” acoustic? Umm??????? That’d be the death of me. Why is that? Firstly, I like the song (duh) and the vibes it gives off. Secondly, it is the type of song that Kyuhyun might like even though he doesn’t have the best English pronunciation. And most importantly, the song can channel or express the sadness and emptiness we feel about the whole enlistment thing. The lyrics are about a long distance relationship, and here we are about to have one. Boohoo.

We keep this love in a photograph

We made these memories for ourselves

Where our eyes are never closing

Hearts are never broken

Times forever frozen still

So you can keep me 
Inside the pocket

Of your ripped jeans

Holdin’ me closer

’Til our eyes meet

You won't ever be alone

Wait for me to come home

My wish is not for the time to be forever frozen still, but for it to fast forward to the day you’ll discharge. By the time it comes, we all will warmly yet passionately welcome you back with the better version of ourselves who—just like what you wrote in your last letter—“can confidently go around saying ‘I am a Kyuhyun fan!’” 

Serve well and come back healthy!