South Korean operatic pop tenor Lim Hyung-joo will start his alternative military service as a welfare center worker at the end of this month, his management agency said Friday.

Lim will work at a Seoul city-run welfare center for elderly citizens in the city’s Yongsan area from Oct. 30 after undergoing five days of basic training at a training facility for social service workers in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province, on Monday, according to DGNcom.

Popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo. (Yonhap)

In March, the famous popera singer finished five weeks of basic military training at a training camp in Paju, just north of Seoul, before being placed as a member of a military brass band of the Army 1st Division.

Unable to wear military boots at the training camp due to foot pain, however, he was later diagnosed with elaw foot, a congenital deformity that he hadn’t noticed before, at a hospital.

“I’m very sorry for being unable to properly achieve my dream of finishing military service as an active-duty sergeant,” Lim said. “But I’ll do my best because this alternative service is also part of military service.” (Yonhap)

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)