(Top) Actor Joo Ji-hoon salutes before entering the training camp. (Below) Kangta in the military. (Photos courtesy of KBS)

Actor Joo Ji-hoon, who was convicted by a Seoul court last year for illegal drug use, entered the Korean military last Feb. 2 as part of the two-year mandatory service for all Korean males.

Joo, 27, who starred in the Korean drama series “Princess Hours,” entered the 306 Reserve Army Training Camp in Gyeonggi Province to start his five-week basic military training before serving full time.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the camp to bid him goodbye. Joo was in tears as he greeted his fans and thanked them for coming.

In April last year, Joo was charged with illegal drug use while his companions, actor Ye Hak-Young and actress Yun Seol-hee, were charged with smuggling illegal drugs.

Convicted in June last year, Joo sentenced Joo to six months in jail, however, his prison term was suspended for one year. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service and to pay 360,000 won (about $307) in fine.

Yun was sentenced to three years in jail while Ye was given a 30-month jail term suspended for four years.

Joo will complete his military service by 2012.

As Joo starts his military service, another hallyu star will be released from the military this month.

Kangta, who was the former lead singer of the defunct Korean boy band H.O.T., has completed his two-year military service and will be out of the military on Feb. 19.

The 31-year-old singer, who entered the Korean military in 2008, will immediately hold fan meetings in Korea, Japan and China. He is expected to resume his career under SM Entertainment.

On Feb. 20, Kangta will meet his fans in Seoul before flying to Beijing and Tokyo.