[Yonhap]
[Yonhap]

Song Minho, a member of the K-pop group Winner facing charges of violating the Military Service Act, appeared in court Tuesday as a witness.

The Seoul Western District Court held the third hearing in the case of a defendant identified only as A, who was indicted on the same charges, and questioned Song as a witness.

Song arrived at the courthouse in a black suit. When reporters asked what he planned to testify — including questions about Tuesday's proceedings — he offered only a brief "I'm sorry" before entering the courtroom.

Song is accused of going absent without leave for 102 of approximately 430 scheduled workdays while serving as a social service worker at facilities under the Mapo-gu Facility Management Corporation and at community convenience facilities between March 2023 and December 2024.

Co-defendant A is charged with turning a blind eye to Song's dereliction of duty or failing to properly supervise him despite being aware of it.

At earlier hearings, A's defense acknowledged procedural problems in how some attendance records were handled, but said A had not conspired with Song in advance to falsify attendance logs or divided responsibilities with him to that end.

A's defense subsequently requested that Song be called as a witness.

Prosecutors have sought a sentence of one year and six months in prison for Song, and closing arguments on Song's behalf have concluded.


min3654@heraldcorp.com