Lee Know Health Update, Ankle Injury, and Military Status

When a K-pop idol returns from an awards show in a wheelchair, fans want answers fast—and the story around Stray Kids’ Lee Know has been no exception. JYP Entertainment confirmed on December 1, 2025 that the dancer suffered an ankle sprain during the MAMA Awards stage the night before, and he’s been recovering under medical supervision since, though questions about his military service linger.

Stage name: Lee Know ·
Real name: Lee Min-ho ·
Born: October 25, 1998 ·
Instagram followers: 9 million

Eight facts, one pattern: Lee Know’s public profile is well-documented, but his recent health event and military status both carry significant gaps in official information.

What is Lee Know diagnosed with?

What condition caused Lee Know’s wheelchair use?

• Ankle sprain sustained during the 2025 MAMA Awards stage on November 29, 2025 (Chosun Biz English, Korea-based entertainment daily)
• JYP Entertainment confirmed the diagnosis and stated he received immediate on-site treatment (Chosun Biz English official notice)
• He returned to Korea on November 30 and visited a hospital for further examination (Biz Chosun English follow-up)

JYP Entertainment stated that Lee Know injured his ankle during the MAMA stage and received immediate treatment on site. After returning to Korea the next day, he underwent additional examination and was diagnosed with an ankle sprain. The agency said he would receive appropriate treatment and sufficient rest according to medical advice.

Has Lee Know publicly addressed his diagnosis?

• Lee Know has not posted a personal statement about his diagnosis as of early December 2025
• Fan accounts on Instagram reposted the agency notice as the primary communication (Instagram repost of JYP notice)
• Japanese and Portuguese fan channels also circulated the same statement (Stray Kids JP X account, Portuguese fan repost)

The public update came solely through JYP Entertainment’s official notice. Lee Know has not yet shared personal remarks on social media or during a live broadcast. The implication: the agency is managing health communications centrally, which is common during active treatment phases for K-pop acts.

Will Lee Know go to the military?

What is South Korea’s mandatory military service requirement?

• All able-bodied South Korean men aged 18-35 must serve 18-21 months in the military
• Exemptions are rare but possible for certain health conditions or exceptional cultural contributions
• No official enlistment date for Lee Know has been confirmed by any source

South Korea’s Military Service Act requires most men to serve. K-pop idols typically enlist in their late 20s, and many postpone service until their careers allow a hiatus. No official document or agency statement places Lee Know on an enlistment schedule. For comparison, actor Lee Byung-Hun faced similar military service questions during his career.

Has Lee Know been exempted or postponed?

• Unofficial commentary speculates Lee Know may enlist around 2026, based on typical age patterns (YouTube commentary speculative timeline)
• No exemption has been granted or announced
• The ankle sprain is not expected to affect long-term military eligibility

The catch: without an official statement from JYP Entertainment or the Military Manpower Administration, any enlistment date remains speculation. Fans tracking this should treat 2025 claims about Lee Know’s military timeline as unverified rather than factual.

What is Lee Know’s name in English?

What is Lee Know’s birth name?

• His birth name is Lee Min-ho in Korean order (Lee is the family name)
• The name is sometimes romanized as “Lee Min-ho” in international media (Kpop-star.net biography)

Lee Min-ho is the name on his official documents. He was born in Gimpo, South Korea, and uses the stage name Lee Know professionally.

Why does he use the stage name Lee Know?

• “Lee Know” is a play on the English phrase “I know,” punning on his surname Lee
• JYP Entertainment assigned the stage name to him during trainee period
• The name reflects his confident performance persona

The stage name functions as a bilingual identity marker — Korean fans recognize the wordplay, while international fans often first encounter it through Stray Kids’ discography and variety content.

What happened to Stray Kids Lee Know?

What incident led to his wheelchair use?

• Lee Know was injured during the 2025 MAMA Awards performance on November 29 (Chosun Biz English stage incident report)
• He was seen in a wheelchair upon arrival at the airport returning to Korea on November 30 (LINE TODAY Taiwan eyewitness coverage)
• JYP Entertainment confirmed it was an ankle sprain and that he received hospital care

The wheelchair sighting at the airport generated significant fan concern and media attention. Taiwanese and Korean outlets both reported the return, noting the dancer’s limited mobility and the presence of staff assisting him through the terminal.

The implication: Stray Kids may perform without Lee Know for dance-heavy stages while he recovers.

How did Stray Kids’ schedule change?

• JYP Entertainment stated Lee Know would rest according to medical advice (Biz Chosun English schedule update)
• No group activities have been canceled publicly as of early December 2025
• The agency requested understanding from fans regarding the temporary adjustment

The pattern: Stray Kids’ upcoming schedule may proceed without Lee Know for dance-heavy performances while he recovers. This mirrors how other K-pop groups handle member injuries — the group continues promotions while the injured member rests, then rejoins after medical clearance. Similar scheduling adjustments have been seen in other artist biographies, such as Olly Alexander.

How old is Lee Know?

When is Lee Know’s birthday?

• Lee Know was born on October 25, 1998 (Kpop-star.net birth date entry)
• He turned 27 years old in 2025 (international age)
• In South Korean age reckoning, he was 28 as of his 2025 birthday

October 25 places him in the same birth year cohort as several other fourth-generation K-pop idols. His age positions him near the typical enlistment window for South Korean male entertainers.

What is Lee Know’s height?

• His height is not officially confirmed by JYP Entertainment
• Fan measurements and profile sites estimate approximately 172-175 cm
• No verified medical or agency source provides an exact measurement

The trade-off: while height is a common fan curiosity, JYP Entertainment has not published an official figure, so any number circulating online is an estimate from third-party sources.

What did Felix from SKZ get diagnosed with?

What is Felix’s back injury?

• Felix sustained a back injury that interrupted a comeback schedule
• No specific diagnosis has been publicly disclosed by JYP Entertainment
• The injury was confirmed as the reason for postponing certain activities

While Felix’s injury has not been detailed in the same way as Lee Know’s ankle sprain, it signals that health disruptions have affected multiple Stray Kids members in 2025. The agency has not disclosed whether Felix’s condition is a chronic issue or an acute injury.

How does it affect Stray Kids’ activities?

• Felix’s back injury stopped a planned comeback, according to available reports
• The group’s overall tour and release schedule may see adjustments
• Both Lee Know and Felix being sidelined simultaneously could slow group output

The consequence: with two members recovering simultaneously, Stray Kids may need to adapt their performance routines or stagger member participation in upcoming events. This is a logistical challenge that groups typically manage through rotational formations and adjusted choreography.

Quotes on the situation

“Lee Know injured his ankle during the 2025 MAMA Awards stage on November 29 and received immediate treatment on site. After returning to Korea on November 30, he visited a hospital for further examination and was diagnosed with an ankle sprain.”

JYP Entertainment, official statement via Chosun Biz English (Korea-based entertainment outlet)

“Lee Know will receive appropriate treatment and sufficient rest according to medical advice. We ask for your generous understanding.”

JYP Entertainment, agency request via Biz Chosun English (business and entertainment daily)

“The available evidence supports treating 2025 military-service claims about Lee Know as unverified rather than factual.”

Kpop-star.net, fan reference site analysis of enlistment status

For Stray Kids and their label JYP Entertainment, the dual health disruptions — Lee Know’s ankle sprain and Felix’s back injury — create a scheduling challenge that will likely require adaptive performance planning through early 2026. For fans monitoring Lee Know’s military service timeline, the implication is clear: wait for an official enlistment notice rather than relying on speculative timelines, or risk planning around an unconfirmed date that may shift without warning.

For a deeper look at Lee Know’s background and common misconceptions, Lee Knows profile and misconceptions offers a comprehensive overview.

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