Lee Know is set to become the first member of Stray Kids to serve in the South Korean military. On November 5, 2026, JYP Entertainment confirmed his military enlistment window, announcing that he is scheduled to fulfill his mandatory service in the first quarter of 2027, which runs from January through March.
The notice answered the biggest question, then opened several smaller ones. JYP said Lee Know may miss some activities scheduled for that quarter, but did not confirm an exact date, a unit, a discharge timeline, or any changes to the group’s schedule. For STAY, that mix of official confirmation and missing detail has turned a long-expected milestone into an emotional and increasingly tense moment.
JYP Confirms Lee Know’s Military Enlistment Window
The agency’s notice was direct about the broad timeline. “Lee Know is scheduled to fulfill his mandatory military service in the first quarter of 2027,” JYP said. “As a result, he may be unable to participate in some of the activities scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.”
Lee Know, born October 25, 1998, is the first Stray Kids member scheduled to enlist. He is also the group’s oldest member who must enlist, which puts him at the front of the group’s service timeline. JYP did not address the other members’ timelines, and nothing in the notice suggests a broader enlistment schedule.
The agency also framed the period before service as active. Lee Know “will continue to connect with STAY through various content and individual activities” before he enlists, the notice said. That line matters for fans who are already wondering what his final months of group promotions and solo content will look like.
What the Notice Says, and What It Leaves Out
JYP’s wording is precise, and the gap between what is confirmed and what is still unknown explains much of the reaction online. The agency confirmed the quarter, the possibility of missed activities, and the promise of pre-enlistment content. It did not confirm the exact day he reports, the branch or unit he will join, or how long he will serve.
The notice does not mention any tour dates, ticket changes, or US schedule updates. As of the November 5 announcement, JYP has not announced any canceled or postponed Stray Kids show, and it has not said the group will promote as seven or eight during his service. Anything beyond that is speculation.
The agency closed by acknowledging the emotional weight. “We understand that this news may come as a surprise to many STAY, and we appreciate your kind understanding,” JYP said. It added that “additional details that cannot be shared at this time will be announced separately when they become available.”
Why Some STAYs Are Upset About the Timing
Reaction on X split into two feelings that can coexist: support for Lee Know and frustration with how the news arrived. Many STAYs had expected an eventual enlistment notice, but seeing the Q1 2027 window in writing made it real. “i knew this was gonna happen but i’m genuinely devastated,” wrote @rachaflex. Another user, @gnabnahc97chris, said, “this is definitely sooner than we expected, and i’m honestly so devastated right now. but i’m wishing him nothing but the best of luck.”
Other replies focused less on the date and more on the surrounding schedule. Some fans questioned why the announcement landed before the group’s next round of activity had been announced publicly. Others argued that Lee Know is enlisting before receiving the kind of solo rollout they had hoped for, pointing to the lack of a dedicated project in the notice. Those are fan concerns, not confirmed plans, and JYP’s notice does not address them.
The criticism is not universal, and it should not be described as a fandom-wide backlash. The loudest posts mix disappointment with affection, and other posts in the same conversation thanked Lee Know for his work and wished him a safe service. What is clear is that the timing, not the obligation itself, is the flashpoint.
What This Means for Stray Kids’ 2027 Schedule
Lee Know’s notice is the first enlistment announcement in Stray Kids’ history, which makes it a template-setting moment for the group. Stray Kids have eight members, and only one has a confirmed service window so far. JYP’s statement leaves room for the group to continue as a unit while Lee Know is away, but it does not define what that unit will look like or which activities he will miss.
For US fans, the most immediate question is whether upcoming tour dates will be affected. The notice does not mention any tour dates, including US shows, and JYP has not announced a replacement lineup or a revised schedule. The only confirmed impact is the possibility that Lee Know will miss some activities in the first quarter of 2027.
The bigger shift is structural. From Q1 2027, Stray Kids’ schedule becomes military-calendar aware. The group’s next announcements will be read for what they reveal about how JYP plans to balance group comebacks, touring, and individual projects around a member in service.
The Questions Still Waiting on Answers
JYP has said additional details will be announced separately when they become available. That makes the agency’s official channels the place to watch for the next update. Until then, the most-searched questions remain open: the exact enlistment date, the length of service, the discharge date, and whether Lee Know will appear on any remaining 2026 stages.
Fans are also watching for the pre-enlistment content JYP promised. The agency described it as “various content and individual activities” without specifying which projects. The notice also leaves open how Stray Kids will handle group activities during his service, and whether other members will receive enlistment notices in 2027. JYP has not confirmed any of those details.
For now, the only confirmed next step is the Q1 2027 window and the agency’s pledge to announce more later. STAYs have a date range, a promise of content before he goes, and a lot of unanswered questions about what Stray Kids will look like when the first member steps away.