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All ONF Korean members finally enlist today, fans say 'we'll wait for you'

With 2021 coming to an end, all five Korean members of ONF enlist in the military together and bid farewell to fans and Japanese member U

Barring Japanese member U of the K-pop group ONF, all the other five members namely, Hyojin, Wyatt, E-Tion, J-US, and MK made the bitter-sweet decision to enlist as a group while U waits for them to return along with Fuses (the ONF Fandom) for a period of two years. December 28 marks the day when all the eligible members of ONF finally enlisted in the military with E-Tion and Hyojin being the last two members among the five to depart for a total period of 18 months.

ONF members made it public that the group had decided that it was best for all five eligible bandmates to enlist in the military at the same time so that fans will not have to experience an extended enlistment era. This would have been the case if individual members left the group to enlist one after the other, resulting in a longer enlistment era. This decision also seems to have benefitted the members as they will only have to be apart from the group activities and the rest of the ONF members for a relatively shorter period.

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ONF Military Era begins

The year 2021 marks one of the best years in ONF's career trajectory. The group achieved a new high by posting steady gains in their listener base and popularity — a steady growth curve through the year. While this growth will see a slump as the members go on hiatus, fans are willing to wait till the members return from military service by the end of 2023. The journey of ONF members’ military enlistment started with MK who enlisted on December 21 this year.

Members J-US and Wyatt then followed by enlisting on December 27 and a day later, members Hyojin and E-Tion enlisted on December 28 becoming the final two members to enlist. U, the only remaining member of ONF will stay back and focus on solo activities till his members return after an estimated period of 18 months.

Why did ONF enlist together?

For every Korean-born male, military enlistment is like an unavoidable fate, and all able-bodied males are supposed to enlist in the military before they cross the age of 30. This limit is being reconsidered for super successful acts like BTS, among others, who are the driving forces of the South Korean economy. But for most K-pop idols, serving in the military means their careers are disrupted just when they are at their peak. Considering the time it takes for trainees to make a debut in the K-pop industry, it is common for most enlistments to occur when the group and members are most popular.

ONF members decided to forego the usual single-member enlistment method and decided to be the first K-pop act to enlist as a group. As the military era for any K-pop group begins, members start leaving the group to enlist for a period of 18 months individually. This means the group can't perform together and are always missing members during their enlistment era. For example, EXO started their enlistment era with the oldest member of the group Xiumin in May of 2019 and the youngest member of EXO, Sehun will enlist at the end of 2022. EXO has therefore been in a limbo for two years already and can expect to stay incomplete as a band for another two to three years. In the fast-moving K-pop world, that is a long time indeed. Members of ONF chose to enlist together in order to minimize the military era for the group and to ensure that all members of the group return sooner — aging only a little before they can get back to their fans as a group.

Fuses promise to wait for ONF

After ONF members promised Fuses that they will return after "growing up well", fans also promised to wait for the members to return after they had fulfilled their duties towards their nation. One fan said, “2021 IS INDEED YOUR YEAR. AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR MAKING MY 2021 BETTER. I WILL TREASURE THE MEMORIES WE'VE DONE TOGETHER. I WILL WAIT FOR YOU." Another fan said, "We will be sending off the last 2 members, but after this we won’t send off anyone else, no more worrying with enlistment, we will only wait for them to come back and they’ll come at once Since ONF is one, all the future comeback will be always with 6 members."

One fan said, "We will wait until you guys completed as Ot6 again. Serve well Lee Seung-jun and Shim Jae-young~~~ See you at 2023. I love you guys!" Another fan said, "Serve well, my boys.Take care of yourselves, we will do the same. We'll wait for your comeback." One more fan said, "So, all ONF korean members already enlist. Stay safe, stay healthy & take care. We will wait for you." Another Fuse said, "Goodbye for now my we will always support you, we will wait for you, serve well. I will love you forever and always, good luck."