Hyun Bin re-assigned to frontline Marine unit
Korean actor Hyun Bin has been re-assigned to the Marine’s 6th brigade on Korea’s Baenyeong Island, after Korean army officials scrapped plans for him to serve as a public relations officer on Monday, reported Korean media. “This decision reflects the sentiment of the people, who hope that Hyun Bin serves as an ordinary soldier,” explained a spokesperson for the Korean Marine Corps.
Hyun Bin, who voluntarily enlisted with the Marines last month, was reassigned after lawmakers and retired generals suggested to senior military officials that he should serve with a combat unit, instead of in the public relations department. Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin also said during a policy briefing on Thursday that, “In my opinion, it would be better for him (Hyun Bin) to serve with a frontline unit just like other ordinary soldiers.”
However, Korea’s Ministry of National Defense had denied that it had interfered in Hyun Bin’s assignment. The “Secret Garden” star has thus far been a poster child for the Korean Marine Corps, with the Marines periodically releasing photos of him during training exercises, photos that have proven to be highly popular with netizens.
Secret Garden MV
The 29-year-old actor is also widely reported to have scored exceptionally well during marksmanship tests. His skill with the rifle may well be an asset when he is posted to Baenyeong Island – a sparsely populated island approximately five hours by boat from Incheon and about 15 kilometres from North Korea.