WINNER’s Song Min-ho, widely known as Mino, is currently at the center of a serious legal controversy regarding his alternative military service. Prosecutors have sought an 18-month prison sentence for the popular idol, accusing him of unauthorized absences for over 100 days while serving as a social service agent. This development comes as his supervisor, identified as Mr. Lee, also faces a one-year prison term request for his alleged involvement in facilitating these absences. The K-Pop world awaits the court’s decision, as both are scheduled to receive their sentences on October 1st.
Supervisor Faces Legal Action for Alleged Complicity
The legal proceedings have intensified, with prosecutors requesting the one-year prison term for Mr. Lee during his closing hearing at the Seoul Western District Court on Thursday. They asserted that Lee “played an essential role in allowing Song to be absent without leave for an extended period and actively took measures to prevent the supervisory authorities from discovering it.” Mr. Lee, who worked for the Mapo-gu Facilities Management Corporation in Seoul, where Song carried out his alternative military service, pleaded for a suspended sentence in his final statement. He expressed a desire for “one last chance” to serve society more faithfully.
Song Min-ho Admits to Unauthorized Absences
Song Min-ho himself is currently accused of leaving his assigned workplace without authorization for more than 100 days while serving as a social service agent there from March 2023 to December 2024. Notably, during Mr. Lee’s trial on July 14, Song appeared as a witness and admitted that he had taken unauthorized absences with his supervisor’s tacit approval. He also confessed to making it appear as though he had applied for leave in advance, a serious breach of duty and a false report of attendance records. Prosecutors in April had sought an 18-month prison sentence for Song, stating he had effectively failed to perform his duties through these prolonged unauthorized absences and falsely reported his attendance records.
Critical Sentencing Date Approaches
The situation highlights the strict regulations surrounding military service in South Korea, even for alternative assignments, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling national duties without exception. The court is scheduled to sentence both Song Min-ho and Mr. Lee at 10 a.m. on October 1st. This case carries significant implications for Song’s career and serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities associated with mandatory national service for all eligible South Korean citizens.
