Pledis Entertainment confirmed the schedules in an official Weverse notice on July 27. Vernon will begin alternative service as a social service agent on August 20, while DK enlists as an active-duty Army soldier on September 8. Both will finish all planned group and individual activities first. The agency asked fans not to visit the training centers, enlistment sites, or Vernon’s workplace, noting that these are shared spaces with other recruits and families. During service the members will step back from SEVENTEEN promotions, though pre-recorded content is planned to keep them connected with CARATs.
SEVENTEEN debuted in 2015 and has kept its original 13-member lineup intact through two contract renewals, the latest finalized earlier this month. The group has built one of K-pop’s strongest global catalogs, with multi-million-selling albums, stadium tours that ranked high on Billboard’s Top Tours chart, and successful units such as the recent V8 (The8 and Vernon). Several members are already serving or have completed service Jeonghan finished alternative service in late June making this the next step in a carefully staggered process that should allow a full 13-member return around 2028.
International fans responded with an outpouring of quiet support mixed with the expected ache. Many zeroed in on the pair’s shared February 18 birthday, calling them the “218 bros” and posting messages like “serve well and come back safely.” Across timelines the tone stayed consistent: pride in their duty, requests for the members to stay healthy, and a collective promise to wait.
