Yeo Jingoo Beat 10-to-1 Odds for KATUSA, and a US Judge's Photo Shows the Payoff

A photo posted on the 10th by an American judge shows Yeo Jingoo in his army uniform and combat cap, smiling and making a finger heart, and fans immediately noticed the tanned skin and broad shoulders. The actor, who enlisted as a KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to the United States Army) soldier on December 15 last year, is now about 11 months into his service.

The judge, Kirsten Brunson, said she met him at the 26th English Speech Contest for the ROK Armed Forces, held at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Yeo Jingoo was hosting the event, and she wrote that she was a fan, adding that she loved his performances in the dramas The Crowned Clown and Hotel Del Luna.

The look is a far cry from his child-actor days, and it is not entirely new. Before enlisting, he appeared in a video tied to the TVING original Great Escape: The Story last July standing next to Kang Hodong, who is listed at 183cm and 109kg, and held his own. Fans joked then that he rivaled the veteran entertainer in sheer size.

The workout behind the frame

On the YouTube channel Workman, Yeo Jingoo explained how he got there. He said he trains almost daily, sometimes for three hours and otherwise about two. Muscle came easily to him even as a kid, he said, and he admitted he hadn't realized how big he had become until he saw the footage with Kang Hodong. "I was standing next to Hodong and I'd gotten way too big," he said, laughing that he figured he should rein in the proportions a bit.

Born in 1997, Yeo Jingoo is scheduled to be discharged in June next year. The photo is a reminder that he has stayed fairly quiet during his service, which is part of what online readers seemed to appreciate.

What Nate Pann users said

1. 1

   Getting into KATUSA is really hard, so this is amazing!

   415 upvotes, 10 downvotes▲415▼10
2. 2

   He's serving quietly in the KATUSA while so many flashy celebrities are out there, which is truly admirable.

   400 upvotes, 2 downvotes▲400▼2
3. 3

   I didn't even know he had enlisted, lol.

   311 upvotes, 4 downvotes▲311▼4
4. 4

   Wow, amazing. He beat 10-to-1 odds, and this was his one and only chance to ever apply.

   30 upvotes, 1 downvotes▲30▼1
5. 5

   Looks like it's all smooth sailing ahead for him, haha.

   23 upvotes, 1 downvotes▲23▼1