A South Korean court has sentenced 33-year-old Song Mino of the K-pop group Winner, who was accused of evading military service, according to infohub.kz.
Under the country's laws, the singer was required to serve 18 months. Instead, he opted for alternative service and was obligated to work as a social worker at a community center in Seoul for 21 months. The service took place from 2023 to 2024, the BBC reports.
The investigation began in 2024 after South Korean media reported frequent absences by Song Mino from his workplace. Ultimately, the court found that the star failed to appear at the community center at least 102 times and also took sick leave on multiple occasions.
His direct supervisor at the center was also in the dock alongside the singer. He falsified documents to confirm Song Mino's attendance at work. Both defendants received suspended sentences. For the singer, the punishment is deferred for two years: this means he can avoid a criminal record if he does not commit other crimes during this period.
This is far from the first case of popular South Korean performers ending up in court. In South Korea's rapidly developing entertainment industry, a year-long break can mean the end of a singer's career. Singer Psy served in the army twice because the first time he continued performing instead of serving. Steve Yoo evaded the army altogether, and authorities banned him from entering the country. Whether Song Mino will serve a second time is still unknown.
Note that the group Winner has existed since 2013. It consists of four members: Kim Jin-woo, Lee Seung-hoon, Kang Seung-yoon, and Song Mino himself. The boy band has toured the US and Latin American countries and has numerous music awards, such as the Melon Music Awards.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle wrote that SHINee member Taemin will perform in Kazakhstan for the first time.