WINNER’s Song Min-ho sentenced after 102 days of unauthorized absence: Military Service Act verdict

Court takes hard line on alleged repeated absences by social service worker

Song Min-ho, 33, of idol group WINNER, was sentenced at trial to a suspended prison term after being accused of repeatedly leaving his assigned workplace without permission while serving as a social service worker.

Judge Seong Jun-gyu of the Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 10 on the first sentenced Song to one year in prison, suspended for two years, after convicting him of violating the Military Service Act.

Song was accused of leaving his assigned workplace without permission for a total of “102 days” while performing alternative service as a social service worker at a facility in Seoul’s Mapo district from March 2023 through December of the following year.

The court stressed, “Military service is a grave duty essential to the nation’s existence and security, and those performing social service cannot be exempt from that duty.” It added, “Because public interest in military service by people working in the broadcasting industry is high, they are expected to bear a particularly heavy sense of responsibility.”

Explaining the sentence, however, the court said, “We took into account that Song has admitted to all of the unauthorized absences and shown remorse, and that his deteriorating health affected his conduct during service.” It added, “We also considered his pledge to fulfill his obligations during the remainder of his service.”

Lee, a manager responsible for operations at a Mapo district facility management corporation, was also sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, for allegedly overlooking and aiding Song’s inadequate service. The court found that Lee actively participated as a “co-perpetrator” by ignoring Song’s absences despite knowing about them and by falsely signing official documents, including attendance records.

Prosecutors had previously sought prison terms of one year and six months for Song and one year for Lee at the closing hearing.

Song, who appeared in court for the first trial’s verdict, bowed to reporters and said, “I am deeply remorseful. I spend every day regretting what I did, and I feel nothing but sorry to the people who have loved and supported me.” But he denied allegations that he had conspired in advance with the manager, saying, “I deny that.” He left the courthouse without answering questions about plans to resume service.