Has NCT’s Taeyong Broken Military Rules? Korean Netizens Puzzled By His Instagram Post
Despite being currently enlisted and fulfilling his military duty, NCT‘s Taeyong has become a hot topic after causing quite a stir online — leaving many Korean netizens puzzled.
In the early hours of May 30, Taeyong took to Instagram to upload a photo of the night sky featuring the moon near a waterfront. While the photo itself is harmless, Korean netizens are stunned by the hour — 1 AM — he posted, given that he is now a soldier. Since enlisting earlier this year on April 15, Taeyong would have been subject to the typical phone use restrictions imposed on soldiers.
해군병 702기 훈련소 입단식 #태용 🥹🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/oBYAJYHWCu
— 태용.zip (@tyzip_) April 24, 2024
The Ministry of National Defense states that enlisted personnel are allowed to use their phones from 6 PM to 9 PM on weekdays and from 8:30 AM to 9 PM on weekends. These privileges are even more limited during periods of guard duty, night shifts, or extensive training.
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Considering the time of Taeyong’s post doesn’t fit in either of the time limits, netizens have reacted wildly to his Instagram story. Some are extremely skeptical, questioning whether Taeyong is actually allowed to use his phone and post at that hour.
But there are also netizens who figure the NCT star must have been allowed to use his phone and that he wouldn’t break the rules.
- “Can soldiers even use their phones at 1 AM?”
- “Did someone else post it for him?”
- “Does this make any sense?”
- “But I thought he was in the Navy…”
- “Maybe he could use his phone while traveling as a promotional ambassador.”
- “Logically, he must’ve posted because he could use his phone.”
- “He must have used it because he was allowed to.”
The reason behind Taeyong being able to use his phone during such hours is currently unknown. It remains to be seen whether SM Entertainment of the NCT star himself will address the netizens’ questions. Meanwhile, Taeyong is expected to be discharged from the military on December 15, 2025.
