Actor Park Bo-gum's 'military anecdote' is spreading and attracting attention from netizens.

Recently, a YouTuber uploaded a video titled "Review of Park Bo-gum Seen in Military Training Center (Memories of Naval Training Center)" on their channel.

He revealed that he is a fan of Park Bo-gum, saying, "The reason I like him is that I saw him directly in military training. I was in the same training unit as Park Bo-gum in the 669th naval training unit. Of course, Bo-gum will not know me at all. Only I know him. I trained together in the squad that was right next to his. We weren't in the same squad, but it was the squad right next to him. So I happened to see him a few times," sharing episodes he experienced during training.

The YouTuber said, "When did I first meet him? The day after we enlisted, there was a typhoon. So we couldn't go to the dining hall at all. Then, when the weather got better in the evening, we ate at the dining hall. After finishing the meal and going to throw away the leftovers, I happened to glance back while waiting in line and saw someone of a different race. I immediately recognized him as Bo-gum. When you see him in person, you marvel at whether he really belongs to the same race. The quality of a person's appearance is different."

He continued, "After attending a briefing in the auditorium, I went to the restroom during a break and came out to find Bo-gum right in front of me. So I seized the moment and asked, 'Bo-gum, I'm a fan. Can I ask for a handshake?' But Bo-gum smiled and said, 'Thank you. But my hands are wet right now,' and wiped the water off his hands on his clothes before immediately shaking my hand, which made me feel sorry but grateful." He added, "Bo-gum always talks with a smile, and even though I'm a man, I feel warm and happy when I see him. Every time I see Bo-gum, I feel like he personifies Pocari Sweat."

He also mentioned, "Isn't Bo-gum known for his good character in the entertainment industry? In reality, he exceeds expectations. For example, when Bo-gum enlisted on the first day, the platoon went crazy. It's amazing for an ordinary person to see a top star. He received a lot of questions at that time. It's funny how men tend to ask the same questions. They're simple: 'Is Irene pretty?' or 'I’m a fan of Kim Yoo-jung; is she beautiful in person?' If you ask these questions, Bo-gum is known to respond with a smile, 'She’s very pretty.' There were also questions about Min-seo-gong. I know this person drew attention in the media as someone resembling Park Bo-gum. However, he also received a lot of criticism. But Bo-gum's response was shocking. When asked if he knew Min-seo-gong, he said, 'I know Min-seo-gong. Thanks to him, many promotional articles for the drama came out, and I'm grateful for that.'"

He continued, "Last year's most popular catchphrase was Jang Won-young's 'Lucky Biki,' right? Bo-gum is the ultimate authority on Lucky Biki. Even the kindest people would feel like a wall in front of Bo-gum. Moreover, Bo-gum never uses profanity. This is also a famous story among our generation: during the last week of training camp, we were suddenly gathered and given a lot of discipline at bedtime. The instructor said we would fill out a questionnaire every week, but someone wrote something that seemed to insult the instructor's character. The instructors got extremely angry and imposed discipline while wearing A-class uniforms. They said, 'From now on, there will be no consideration for you. Is there anyone dissatisfied? You don't need to feel wronged. Did any of you not use profanity even once during training? None, right? If so, raise your hand, and I'll excuse you.' At that moment, Bo-gum quietly raised his hand. So the instructor behind him panicked and ran over, saying, 'This is not the time to raise your hand.' This is a famous story that made everyone laugh."

In particular, the YouTuber emphasized, "If you only hear this story, you might think he is 'just pure and kind,' but that's not it at all. He exudes charisma. For example, the naval forces go through night training sessions around the 2nd or 3rd week. There, we undergo infamous training like chemical and biological training and various individual exercises. When we go into a night training unit, there is always a saying: 'Enter in the same squad.' This means we say, '2nd squad, 3rd squad,' referring to our own squads. And we have to wait before assembling. It means we need to wait because we will assemble. However, while waiting, the children become friendlier and chat a lot. So the instructors gather us as an example, and afterward, they disband us and gather us again. This infinite cycle continues. They tell us not to talk. Yet, there will always be someone who talks. It has been repeated five or six times, and there are still kids who talk."

He said, "I thought we should tone it down, but I heard a voice from the side. It was Bo-gum. He said, 'Hey guys, we're adults now, not kids. Let's keep it quiet.' Finally, the kid who was talking until the end shut his mouth. At that moment, I felt relieved and extremely grateful; it was impressive. Nobody else could do it, but he stepped up to do so. Furthermore, what’s amazing is that after all the training was over, during break time, he came into all the living quarters and said, 'I'm sorry, everyone, for shouting earlier,' and apologized before leaving. That's Park Bo-gum for you."

He continued, "His physical strength is amazing. When I measured running in the training camp, I ran with Bo-gum. In the beginning, I could see him right in front, but later, I could no longer see him. By the way, I barely managed to do a special pull-up. I think Bo-gum came in about 1 or 2 minutes ahead of me. And he participated in all the training without skipping anything. He didn’t receive any special treatment just because he was a celebrity."

He added, "These days, many scandals occur in the entertainment industry. Because of this, people start to suspect that all entertainers belong to those types and can't be immersed in variety shows or productions. I often think, 'They act one way in front of the camera and differently behind it,' which is disappointing. However, because I saw Bo-gum in person, I have a firm belief in him. He is recognized by everyone around him. I think the reason is that these words didn't just come out of nowhere." He expressed, "He has already achieved incredible success and is a huge star, but I hope he continues to succeed and has good things ahead. I will always support him from afar."

He also mentioned through comments, "I've seen the actor in the military training center (Jinhae) and even met him several times at the base (Gyeryongdae) and at 3rd Army Headquarters or church, and he always consistently showed a warm, exemplary, and considerate attitude. I believe he shines even brighter in today's chaotic world. Personally, I received a lot of inspiration from him." He emphasized, "I believe anyone who served at Gyeryongdae from late 2020 to early 2022 will highly praise Bo-gum."

Park Bo-gum has been well-known for various anecdotes of goodwill in the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, as stories about his actual character, as experienced and felt by his military peers, spread, he has received responses comparable to the "unicorn" reaction, akin to the line from 'When Life Gives You Tangerines.'

[Photo] OSEN DB, Naval Education Command

[OSEN]