UPDATE: WINNER member Song Mino is now facing serious legal repercussions as investigations reveal he allegedly neglected his military service duties more severely than previously believed. Authorities have confirmed that Mino, who served as a social service worker, repeatedly failed to report for duty and left his assigned workplace without authorization.
Initial reports indicated more than eight days of unauthorized absence, but prosecutors have uncovered additional absence days through a forensic analysis of his cell phone and GPS data. This alarming development raises the stakes significantly, as Korean Military Service Act Article 89 states that leaving one’s service post without justifiable reason for eight days or more can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years.
The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office has indicted Mino without detention for violations of the Military Service Act. The indictment comes after supplementary investigations revealed a growing number of confirmed unauthorized absences. Officials from the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) clarified that while absences within seven days are usually handled administratively, cases exceeding eight days are automatically escalated to criminal charges. This explains why Mino’s situation was referred to police and subsequently to prosecutors.
Mino’s unauthorized absences reportedly occurred between March 2023 and December 2024, during his service in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Initially denying the allegations during two rounds of questioning, Mino later admitted in a third interrogation that he had indeed left his workplace during work hours. As the confirmed number of absence days continues to rise, so does the likelihood that Mino could face jail time, pending the court’s judgment.
The implications of this case extend beyond Mino himself, impacting his fans and the broader K-pop community. Fans are reacting with shock and concern as they await further developments. Mino’s future now hangs in the balance as legal experts weigh in on the potential outcomes.
This case is developing rapidly, and updates are anticipated as legal proceedings unfold. Stay tuned for more urgent updates on this situation as it progresses.
