Park Ji Hoon reveals plans for military enlistment next year, says he's "not afraid of military hiatus"

04 Jun 2026, 20:55 by K-Soul · allkpop

Park Ji Hoon expressed his determination to enlist in the military next year.

Recently, Park Ji Hoon sat down for an interview in Seoul’s Jongno District to discuss his latest project, 'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier.'

'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier' is a military cooking fantasy drama that follows private Kang Sung Jae, who trades a rifle for a kitchen knife and a bullet belt for an apron as he rises to become a “legendary military cook.” Park Ji Hoon plays Kang Sung Jae, a sincere young soldier who gives his all in every task. After being assigned to the Gangrim outpost, he encounters mysterious experiences that revolutionize the unit’s meal system.

Known as a military enthusiast himself, Park Ji Hoon shared that filming the series gave him the chance to briefly experience military life firsthand.

Recalling the KCTC training scenes, he said, “We filmed training scenes in the mountains during winter, and it was incredibly cold. Even that brief indirect experience was fun for me. I carried a rifle, crawled on the ground, and fully immersed myself in the role.”

When asked whether the drama would help him in real military life, he laughed and shook his head.

“A military cook is a position where you have to start work earlier than everyone else and finish later, so I think it comes with its own challenges. Thankfully, I was stationed at a small outpost with fewer people, but if it were a battalion-level unit, you’d have to cook hundreds of meals. It definitely wouldn’t be easy,” he explained.

Born in 1999, Park Ji Hoon is also preparing for his upcoming military enlistment.

“I want to try entering a special unit,” he said. “I want to apply and take the tests to join a place that requires volunteering. I think there would be a lot to learn there. I want to experience things like airborne training, rappelling from a helicopter, and jumping out.”

Regarding the timing of his enlistment, he stated, “The exact timing hasn’t been decided yet, but I’m in a situation where I have to go next year.”

“I think I should go while it’s less difficult for me physically. I can’t delay it too long,” he emphasized, also expressing interest in joining the Marine Corps or a reconnaissance unit.

He added that he is not worried about the so-called “military hiatus.”

“These days, a lot of actors film projects before enlisting,” he explained. “I want fans to feel like, ‘He’s already back?’”

'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier' will air its final episode on June 16.

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