SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi Suffers Complete ACL Tear During Military Service, Set for Surgery and Recovery
SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi has confirmed one of the more difficult pieces of news CARATs have faced this year: a complete tear of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), sustained while rehearsing as part of his mandatory military service.
The idol shared the update personally through Weverse on September 12 (KST), explaining that he now faces surgery and an extended recovery period that will keep him off the stage for months.
The injury has quickly become one of the biggest K-pop stories of the day, not only because of Hoshi’s profile as one of SEVENTEEN’s most physically dynamic performers, but because of the timing — it struck just as he was preparing for a high-profile joint military performance with fellow member Woozi.
What Happened
According to Hoshi’s own account, the injury occurred during a rehearsal with the Ground Forces performance team, a unit he joined after enlisting.
An examination following the injury confirmed a complete ACL tear, a serious ligament injury that typically requires surgical reconstruction rather than rest alone.
Hoshi said he would need to undergo surgery and then dedicate himself to recovery, a process that multiple outlets covering the story estimate will take a minimum of six months.
In his message, Hoshi said he was writing carefully because the news might come as a shock to fans, and he explained plainly that a medical exam had confirmed the full tear.
He kept the tone measured rather than alarmed, focusing on next steps: surgery, then a structured recovery process before any return to physical activity.
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The most immediate consequence of the injury is that Hoshi will be unable to take part in two events he had been actively preparing for: the military’s Taekwondo Demonstration Team engagements and the Ground Forces Festival, a significant showcase within his service unit.
What makes this particularly disappointing for fans is that Hoshi and Woozi (Lee Jihoon) had both successfully passed auditions to perform together at the Ground Forces Festival.
Reports note that Hoshi had spoken enthusiastically about the upcoming stage as recently as July, expressing excitement about performing alongside his groupmate during their shared service period.
That joint performance is now off the table for Hoshi, though Woozi is expected to continue on with the Ground Forces performance team without him.
In his Weverse post, Hoshi asked fans to instead direct their support toward the Taekwondo Demonstration Team and the Ground Forces performance unit that Woozi remains part of, rather than dwelling on his own absence from the stage.
Hoshi’s Military Service Timeline
Hoshi enlisted for his mandatory military service in September 2025, alongside Woozi, who began his own service just one day earlier.
The pair’s enlistment had been previously confirmed by PLEDIS Entertainment back in July of that year, with both members completing final activities — including a joint fan concert — before entering service.
Since enlisting, Hoshi has been serving with the Army Taekwondo Demonstration Team, a role that draws on his athletic and dance background as one of SEVENTEEN’s most acrobatic performers.
His scheduled discharge date remains March 15, 2027, meaning the ACL injury and subsequent recovery will occupy a significant portion of his remaining service period, though it is not expected to affect his discharge timeline itself.
South Korea’s mandatory military service requirement applies to most able-bodied male citizens, typically lasting between 18 and 21 months. Of SEVENTEEN’s 13 members, nine are required to serve under this policy.
Members Joshua (a US citizen), and THE8 and Jun (Chinese citizens) are exempt due to their nationality. Wonwoo and Jeonghan had already begun their own service ahead of Hoshi and Woozi.
An Ironic Parallel: S.Coups’ Prior ACL Exemption
One detail adding an unusual layer to the story is that SEVENTEEN’s leader, S.Coups, is himself exempt from mandatory military service entirely due to a previous ACL injury of his own.
The coincidence — one member exempted from service because of an ACL tear, while another suffers the same injury during his active duty — has not gone unnoticed by fans and commentators following the news, underscoring just how physically demanding the group’s high-energy choreography and, in Hoshi’s case, military performance duties can be.
What Recovery Looks Like
ACL reconstruction surgery is a well-established procedure, but recovery is notoriously lengthy even for professional athletes and performers in peak physical condition.
A “minimum six-month” recovery window, as cited by several outlets covering Hoshi’s case, is on the faster end of typical ACL recovery timelines; many cases extend closer to nine months to a full year before a return to high-intensity dance or athletic performance is considered safe.
The timeline will likely depend on the specifics of Hoshi’s surgery, his rehabilitation progress, and clearance from medical staff overseeing his recovery within the military structure.
For now, specifics on his surgery date and the identity of the treating facility have not been publicly detailed, and it’s unclear whether Hoshi will remain with his current unit in a modified capacity during recovery or be reassigned administratively while he heals — a common practice for enlisted service members recovering from significant injuries.
Fan Reaction
The news broke quickly across fan communities and K-pop news aggregators, with the story trending within hours of Hoshi’s Weverse post.
Given Hoshi’s reputation as one of SEVENTEEN’s most physically expressive members — known for his powerful dance breaks and acrobatic stage presence — the injury has drawn a wave of concern and well-wishes from CARATs (SEVENTEEN’s official fandom name), many of whom flooded social platforms with messages of support following the announcement.
Hoshi closed his own message on a reassuring note, thanking fans in advance for their patience and expressing his intention to receive proper treatment, focus fully on recovery, and return to full health as soon as possible. He did not indicate any change to his scheduled discharge date or provide a specific timeline for his return to full mobility.
What Happens Next
With surgery still pending as of this report, the coming weeks are expected to bring further updates — likely regarding the surgery date, initial prognosis, and any adjustments to Hoshi’s duties for the remainder of his service.
SEVENTEEN as a group has not issued a separate statement beyond Hoshi’s personal post, and it remains to be seen whether Hybe or PLEDIS Entertainment will release additional details given that the injury occurred during mandatory service rather than group activities.
For now, the update leaves Hoshi’s return to SEVENTEEN’s group schedule — expected to resume in earnest once all serving members complete their enlistments — an open question, though his discharge date of March 15, 2027 suggests he will have a window for continued recovery even after leaving active duty.
This is a developing story, and updates will be added as more information becomes available.