Song Min-ho, also known by his stage name Mino, has been handed a suspended one-year prison sentence by a South Korean court after being convicted of violating the country's military service law. The 33-year-old member of the K-pop group Winner was found to have been absent multiple times from a community centre in Seoul, where he worked as a social worker from 2023 to 2024.

Military Service Obligations

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve at least 18 months in the military. However, some individuals may be assigned as social service personnel for health reasons. The court's ruling, delivered on Thursday, suspends the prison sentence for two years, allowing Song to avoid incarceration if he does not commit any further crimes during this probationary period.

Details of the Case

The court revealed that Song recorded 102 unauthorized absences during his 21-month tenure as a social service agent. The court emphasized that military service is a duty to be performed "faithfully" and that social service agents are "no exception." Despite the conviction, the court acknowledged that Song had admitted to the charges and expressed remorse.