The strange reason why K-pop singer Yubin's ex-boyfriend Kwon Soon-woo will miss the Australian Open 2025

Renowned K-Pop star Yubin's ex-boyfriend, Kwon Soon-woo, will miss the 2025 Australian Open and the rest of the upcoming tennis season as he begins his mandatory 18-month military service in January. The 27-year-old announced the news online.

Since 1957, mandatory military service has been a requirement for South Korean men aged 18 to 35, with only rare dispensations granted. Kwon Soon-woo had the opportunity to qualify for one by winning gold at last year’s Asian Games but he could only manage to claime a bronze medal in the doubles event. Thus, the World No. 349 has to stay away from the court to fulfill military obligations.

Here's the message shared by Kwon on Instagram:

"Good afternoon to you all. I will be enlisting on January 13, 2025. My tour life is almost two years but I'm going to slow down. As long as you wait, we will see you in the second quarter with a more perfect form. Many people are 30 years old and don't want to start again, but it's hard to start touring again...," he said (translated from Korean to English).

"I'm in my prime since 30 and I'm confident. I haven't yet achieved 20% of the 100 percent of the goals I set out to achieve. I hope you can also expect Korean tennis that you've always dreamed of. We will make the Korean tennis look that all tennis fans want. We will do it by this time, so please expect it🙇 ♂️ I will say goodbye for a while. I hope everyone stays healthy and happy. 🙇 ♂️🍀😄", he added.

For those unaware, Kwon was previously in a relationship with renowned K-Pop star Yubin. The couple went public with their romance in May last year, with Yubin often spotted supporting him from the stands. However, their relationship ended just five months later.

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Kwon Soon-woo's temporary tennis absence comes on the back of a disappointing 2024 season

Kwon Soon-woo at 2024 Davis Cup Qualifiers- Image Source: Getty

Kwon Soon-woo struggled to find his best form during the 2024 season. His standout performance came at the Vitro Busan Open, where he advanced to the semifinals. He was ultimately defeated by his compatriot Seongchan Hong.

Additionally, Kwon faced an early exit in the qualifying round of the Indian Wells Masters, where he lost to Seongchan Hong, and suffered a second-round defeat at the Miami Open against Alex de Minaur.

Kwon's best Grand Slam performance of the season came at the French Open, where he reached the second round before falling to America's Sebastian Korda. The South Korean suffered first-round exits at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.