“I honestly wondered for a long time whether I should talk about this or not…”
NCT’s Doyoung has spoken up after online jokes and accusations claimed he intentionally pushed his military enlistment as late as possible.
The controversy surfaced immediately after his enlistment news broke, with posts spreading across forums and social media questioning the timing and suggesting he had delayed service.
During a recent live broadcast, Doyoung admitted he debated whether to respond at all, saying he spent a long time thinking about whether addressing the issue publicly was the right move. Ultimately, he chose to clarify the situation directly.
I honestly wondered for a long time whether I should talk about this or not. After the enlistment news came out, so many people were saying all kinds of things. In that moment, I wasn’t sure if I should respond right away or take some time to think.
If I explain things naturally here… about the timing of my enlistment…
— NCT’s Doyoung
According to Doyoung, the speculation is simply untrue. He explained that the timeline of his enlistment came naturally as he finished each major commitment on his schedule.
🐰 should i talk about this or not…? i thought about it a lot… to be honest, after the enlistment news dropped, a lot of people said this and that. so what i felt right in that moment was just… should i share my thoughts immediately or take some time to think about it… pic.twitter.com/L7eCSNk7Yl
— 링 (@NCTDAOYlNG) November 20, 2025
To some, it may seem as though I’m enlisting very late. What a lot of people said so casually, whether as a joke or out of genuine belief — that’s absolutely not true. It’s just that after completing each and every thing right before me, this time has come.
Whether it was The Man Who Laughs or the Momentum concert that came right after, I have just been working on them one by one, and then the time to enlist just happened to come now. Everyone makes an effort to make wise decisions that are suitable for themselves.
— NCT’s Doyoung
He added that, like anyone else, he tried to make choices that were appropriate for his situation and the people he was working with.
By addressing the rumors head-on, Doyoung put an end to the narrative that he avoided his duty. He will be enlisting soon, joining the long list of third-generation male idols entering the military in the past few years.
