Taeyong's emotional military discharge makes NCT history

NCT leader Taeyong has officially completed his military service, marking the return of the group's very first member who has finished active duty. The emotional moment was shared with fans through fresh photos and videos that instantly lit up social media, according to Yonhap News reports.

Discharge photos melt fans

Taeyong posted a short but powerful message, "I'm back," alongside a series of discharge photos on NCT's official social accounts. Wearing his military uniform, a flower bouquet, and a celebratory ribbon, he beams with a bright smile that screams both pride and relief after his service as a Navy cultural publicity soldier. One particularly touching video shows him bowing deeply to his family to announce his discharge, a scene that fans are already calling "K-drama level emotional.

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From navy life to first 'military-complete idol'

Taeyong enlisted in April last year and served in the Navy's gugak honor guard unit as a culture and PR soldier, a position that often put him on formal stages even in uniform. Having debuted with NCT in 2016 and led intense group, unit, and solo activities for eight years before enlistment, this discharge officially makes him NCT's first fully military-completed idol. That "first" title is already turning into fandom bragging rights, with fans joking that the "NCT military era" has finally, and dramatically, begun.

What comes next for taeyong

Industry insiders are already buzzing about Taeyong's comeback timeline, predicting a quick return to music and content now that his service is done. With his pre-enlistment solo work and charismatic stage presence still fresh in fans' minds, expectations are sky-high for what his first post-military album, performance, or reality content might look like. And with younger NCT members currently serving or preparing to enlist, Taeyong's speedy move back into the spotlight could set the template for how the group navigates its full "post-military" future.