Ever since Korean actor-singer Jang Keun Suk was discharged from the military at the end of May, he has been making the rounds on the showbiz circuit and actively updating fans on his life on social media.

On Tuesday (Jun 30), the 32-year-old sent netizens into a frenzy when he posted a photo of himself posing in a dressing room, along with this caption: “I’m back.” What got fans excited wasn’t his comeback, but how different Keun Suk looks now.

Even though Keun Suk was dressed in an oversized white shirt, netizens noted that he was noticeably slimmer. His chin also appeared sharper.

“Pretty boy is back,” commented one fan, while another said he looked like the cover star of a romance novel.

Some netizens speculated that he had lost at least five kilos during his two-year stint in the military.

Turns out things were very different a year ago.

In June, Keun Suk, who was exempted from basic military training due to his bipolar disorder, revealed in a radio show that he had gained weight 'cos he was “sitting down a lot” when he was working in the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters. This was the reality check he needed and he has been working out every day since.

Keun Suk catapulted to stardom across Asia with his role as a cool rocker in 2009 hit K-drama You're Beautiful. His guy-liner became his signature look and the role earned him the title “Asia’s Prince”, which he has adopted for his Instagram handle.

However, Keun Suk’s physique has been under scrutiny in recent years. In 2016, he was mocked by netizens for looking “chubbier”. His weight gain also became a talking point in 2017 when he was appointed as the ambassador of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The actor previously revealed in an interview that he maintains his weight by eating right and working out regularly. But when he needs to shed pounds fast, he embarks on a “soju diet”, which sees him abstaining from food for five days and consuming only the popular Korean tipple. We're not sure if he's joking but we don't recommend that anyone try his diet out.

Photos: Jang Keun Suk/Instagram