{p/n: parts were Yunho or fans were mentioned are highlighted in red~}

With Idols in Ranks, South Korean Army Steps to a K-Pop Beat

One of South Korea’s most famous K-pop stars, U-Know Yunho, center, performing this month at a military festival in Gyeryong, South Korea. [cr: Jean Chung for The New York Times]

GYERYONG, South Korea — The audience applauded politely as the honor guard twirled its rifles, and oohed and aahed at the acrobatic taekwondo demonstration. But the real excitement began when the army band appeared.

The big draw: Jung Yun-ho, a soldier otherwise known as U-Know Yunho, one of South Korea’s most famous K-pop stars. He burst onto the stage of a military runway here in the mountains south of Seoul, wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with “Korea Army” on the back.

“This is the band I organized in the army,” Mr. Jung shouted, gesturing to the other soldier-musicians behind him as 2,500 civilian fans quivered and shrieked in delight. Continue reading →