A South Korean court has convicted K-pop artist Song Min-ho, known professionally as Mino, of violating the country’s military service law. The 33-year-old member of the boy band Winner was handed a one-year prison sentence, which has been suspended for two years, following findings that he failed to attend his mandatory social service duties on multiple occasions.
Song, who served as a social service agent at a Seoul community centre from 2023 to 2024, accumulated 102 unauthorised absences during his 21-month term. While all able-bodied men in South Korea are required to serve at least 18 months in the military, individuals deemed unfit for combat roles may be assigned as social service personnel for health reasons. The suspended sentence means Song will avoid incarceration provided he commits no further crimes during the probationary period.
In its ruling, the court emphasised that military service must be performed faithfully and that social service agents are subject to the same obligations. However, judges also acknowledged that Song had admitted to the charges and expressed remorse. Authorities initiated an investigation after local media reported in 2024, shortly after his discharge, that he had frequently skipped duties and taken excessive sick leave.
The supervisor at the social service centre where Song worked also received a suspended jail sentence for facilitating his evasion of duties, including falsifying records to create the appearance that Song had reported for work. This case has reignited discussion around the conscription of entertainers in South Korea, a longstanding subject of public debate.
High-profile precedents include singer Psy, who was forced to enlist twice after a court ruled he neglected his initial service by continuing showbiz activities, and pop star Steve Yoo, who sparked national outrage in 2002 after evading service by renouncing his citizenship and becoming a US national. Such legal repercussions and intense public scrutiny underscore the risks celebrities face when navigating mandatory service.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the verdict, Song expressed regret, stating he was sorry to his fans, according to the Seoul Economic Daily. When asked whether he would re-enlist to fulfil the mandatory duty, he declined to answer.
Another example of how public figures are held to impossible standards. Why isn’t regular draft evasion punished similarly?
The supervisor getting sentenced too is interesting. Someone clearly helped him fake the attendance records systematically.
I’m actually relieved it wasn’t actual jail time. Hope he learns from this and keeps his head down now.
Does ‘suspended sentence’ mean he got off easy? South Korea’s conscription laws seem incredibly strict compared to other countries.
This is shocking. Over a hundred absences? I expected stricter penalties for celebrities avoiding civic duty.