Popular television actor Hyun Bin has been ordered to serve on a frontline island.

The actor, famous for recent appearance in hit television drama “Secret Garden,” joined the Marines last month for the mandatory military service. 

Able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve 20 months in the military, and Hyun’s decision to join the Marine Corps brought him much public attention, as the elite Marine Corps’ training is particularly arduous.

The Marines announced that he will be stationed on Baengnyeong Island after completing six-week basic training. The Marines originally planned to assign the actor to public relations duties but changed their mind and assigned him to combat duty after public criticism for “special treatment.”

Marines are stationed on islands near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between South Korea and North Korea, where there have been several naval clashes.

By Joo Hye-mi (hyemijoo@gmail.com)