JYP Sets Out a January to March Window
Stray Kids member Lee Know is scheduled to begin his mandatory military service in the first quarter of 2027, JYP Entertainment announced on November 5, 2026. The January to March window overlaps with the group's ongoing Run It world tour, which is scheduled to continue through March 7.
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Lee Know, 28, will become the first member of the group of eight to begin military service. JYP warned that he may miss some activities during the first three months of next year, while outlining plans for content and individual activities before he enlists.
JYP Entertainment, the group's management agency, explained the expected effect on his schedule in its announcement:
As a result, he may be unable to participate in some of the activities scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. However, prior to his enlistment, he will continue to connect with STAY through various content and individual activities,
STAY is the name of Stray Kids' fan community. For fans preparing to attend upcoming events, the immediate change is uncertainty about Lee Know's participation in part of the schedule, while the group continues its current tour and prepares a Japanese release.
What the Announcement Leaves Open
JYP posted the notice on Stray Kids' official social media on Thursday, November 5. It did not give an exact enlistment date, identify the form of service Lee Know will undertake or list the activities he could miss. The agency said further details would be provided in later notices.
The form of service matters because it determines the duties he will perform and affects the length of his absence. Without that information, a discharge date cannot yet be calculated. For now, fans have a three month window for the start of service rather than a confirmed day.
JYP's wording also leaves room for Lee Know to participate in some activities during the first quarter. His attendance at individual events will depend on the timing of his enlistment and the schedule the agency announces.
A Tour and Japanese Release Are Still Ahead
Stray Kids are in the middle of their Run It world tour, with three shows at Tokyo Dome scheduled to begin on Friday, November 6. The concerts place the group in Japan immediately after the announcement about Lee Know's service plans.
The group's fourth Japanese mini album, Suiatsu, is scheduled for release on November 25. A mini album, also commonly called an EP, is a release shorter than a full album. The release adds another major engagement to the group's calendar before the year ends.
The tour's scheduled March 7 finish falls within the same quarter in which Lee Know expects to begin service. That overlap makes the eventual enlistment date especially relevant to people attending the later concerts.
JYP has said he may miss some scheduled activities, so fans waiting for confirmation about a particular appearance will need the agency's follow-up notices. The November announcement sets out the broad timing while leaving decisions about individual appearances for later.
Lee Know Had Already Spoken About Serving
Lee Know, who was born in 1998 and will turn 29 in 2027, addressed his approaching military obligation at an August press conference marking a new release. His comments connected his personal responsibility to his expectation that Stray Kids would come together again after members' service absences.
Lee Know, a performer and main dancer in Stray Kids, said at the press conference:
I think fulfilling my duty to national defense is only natural. When I'm called up, I'll faithfully carry out the duty entrusted to me. What's certain is that we'll get together again after the military-service hiatus.
His remarks gave fans a direct statement of his intentions before JYP announced the January to March window. He spoke both about carrying out his duty and about returning to group activities after the period of military service.
How He Plans to Stay Connected With Fans
JYP said Lee Know would meet fans through various content and individual activities before enlistment. Those plans give him a way to maintain contact with STAY as his availability for the group's schedule changes.
The agency's commitment concerns the period before he begins service. Its announcement focuses on keeping that remaining time active, alongside the warning that he may be absent from some events early next year.
JYP also acknowledged the suddenness of the news. Addressing STAY, the agency said:
We understand that this news may come as a surprise to many STAY, and we appreciate your kind understanding,
The company thanked fans for supporting Stray Kids since their debut and asked for continued love and support for Lee Know and the group. Its message combined advance notice of a coming absence with a promise that he would continue engaging with fans before leaving.
A First Service Absence During a Strong Run
Lee Know debuted with Stray Kids in 2018 and has been a central part of the group's performance lineup as its main dancer. Songs including God's Menu, Back Door, Maniac and Chk Chk Boom have helped build the group's international audience.
Stray Kids have also reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with nine consecutive albums. The Billboard 200 ranks albums in the United States, making those results a measure of the group's reach beyond South Korea.
His enlistment will introduce the group's first period in which a member is away for military service. JYP's notice addresses Lee Know's possible absences from some activities, while the current calendar still includes the world tour and the Japanese mini album.
For listeners, the practical questions concern who will appear at particular events and how Lee Know's individual activities will fit into the time before enlistment. The group's chart success and international schedule help explain why an announcement about one member's availability reaches audiences across several countries.
The Dates Fans Are Watching
The immediate schedule runs from November concerts and a Japanese release to a possible service start during the tour's final months. The key dates are:
- August 2026: Lee Know says at a release press conference that he will faithfully carry out his military duty when called.
- November 5, 2026: JYP announces plans for him to begin service in the first quarter of 2027.
- November 6, 2026: Stray Kids are scheduled to begin three shows at Tokyo Dome.
- November 25, 2026: The Japanese mini album Suiatsu is scheduled for release.
- January to March 2027: Lee Know is expected to begin military service and may miss some activities.
- March 7, 2027: The Run It world tour is scheduled to finish.
JYP's next notices will be especially relevant to fans with plans for events early in 2027. Until those details arrive, the announced release and tour dates provide the calendar against which Lee Know's service arrangements will take shape.
Key Points
- Lee Know is scheduled to begin military service between January and March 2027.
- He will be the first Stray Kids member to enlist.
- JYP says he may miss some activities during that quarter.
- Content and individual activities are planned before enlistment.
- The exact enlistment date, service type and affected appearances will be addressed in later notices.
- Suiatsu is due November 25, while the Run It tour is scheduled to continue through March 7.
