SEVENTEEN's Vernon Begins Military Service as a Dual Citizen

SEVENTEEN member Vernon has begun his military service, drawing attention because he is a dual citizen of both Korea and the United States. This situation has sparked discussions among the public and fans, especially concerning the unique circumstances of idol dual citizens fulfilling their military obligations.

Vernon, born in New York to a Korean father and French-American mother, moved to Korea at age four and grew up attending Korean schools, making him fluent in both Korean and English. Although he holds American citizenship, he started his military duty on August 20th, serving as a social service worker after completing basic military training. Bloggers note that he has often expressed feeling culturally closer to Korea, despite his dual identity, and his enlistment was preceded by a post titled 'I'll Be Back.' This makes him notable as potentially the first idol dual citizen to enlist, contrasting with past discussions about nationality and military service, though his situation is distinct from cases like Yoo Seung-jun.

Korean bloggers express admiration for Vernon's choice, viewing it as a responsible decision that reflects his connection to the community he grew up in. They highlight the emotional impact of seeing him in uniform and appreciate his commitment, especially given the sensitive nature of military service in Korea. Some also humorously observe how his various hairstyles—black, shaved, and blonde—affect his appearance, noting his strong facial features remain prominent regardless, leading to observations like 'black hair is handsome, shaved head is facial features, blonde hair is atmosphere.'