Song Minho apologizes after 102-day service absence; re-enlistment looms

Singer Song Minho of the group Winner, who faces charges of violating the Military Service Act [Yonhap]

Song Minho, 33, a member of the K-pop group Winner, issued a handwritten apology after being convicted of abandoning his social service duty for 102 days — nearly a quarter of his total working days. The letter came about one year and 10 months after allegations of dereliction first surfaced, and eight days after he received a suspended prison sentence in his first trial.

Song posted the handwritten letter on his SNS account Friday, saying he "bowed his head in apology to the many people who had been caused concern."

"I should have spoken sooner, but it has taken far too long," he wrote. "I am sorry for making you wait."

Song had been classified as a Grade 4 supplemental service candidate during his military physical examination and began his social service duty on March 24, 2023, at the Seoul Mapo Facility Management Corporation. In March 2024, he transferred to the Mapo Resident Convenience Facility.

Allegations emerged in December 2024, six days before his scheduled discharge, with reports that he had frequently signed in and then left his post. His agency, YG Entertainment, said at the time that his sick leave was a continuation of treatment he had been receiving before his service began, and that all other leave had been taken in accordance with regulations. Song was discharged on Dec. 23 of that year with the controversy unresolved.

The Mapo Police Station in Seoul, acting on a referral from the Military Manpower Administration, booked Song on charges of violating the Military Service Act and raided both his workplace and residence. At his first police interview on Jan. 23, 2025, Song indicated there had been no problems with his service, but he is understood to have largely admitted to leaving his post during working hours over the course of three subsequent interviews. Police referred the case to prosecutors on May 22 of that year.

The first criminal division of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office indicted Song and his duty supervisor, a 54-year-old surnamed Lee, without detention on Dec. 30, 2025. Prosecutors said supplementary investigation — including mobile phone forensics and GPS records — had confirmed additional unauthorized absences.

The indictment listed 102 days of service absence, roughly one-quarter of the approximately 430 working days — excluding weekends and public holidays — during his service period. Prosecutors alleged that when Song failed to show up, citing reasons such as oversleeping or fatigue, Lee permitted the absences and falsified the daily service log to show him as present.

At a hearing held in April, Song admitted to all charges, and prosecutors sought a sentence of one year and six months in prison. His defense argued that he had been suffering from bipolar affective disorder and panic disorder at the time of the offenses, making normal service difficult, and asked for leniency. In his final statement, Song said, "If given the chance to serve again, I want to complete it faithfully to the end."

Lee, however, denied the charges. When Song appeared as a witness at Lee's hearing on July 14, he acknowledged lending Lee money and going on an overnight fishing trip together, but drew a line at the suggestion that these were in exchange for lenient treatment of his absences. He also testified that the failure to report for duty was entirely his own responsibility.

Judge Seong Jun-gyu of the Seoul Western District Court sentenced Song on Oct. 1 to one year in prison, suspended for two years. The court said military service is an obligation tied to the survival and security of the state, and that social service workers are no exception. It also noted the high level of public attention to how people in the broadcasting industry fulfill their service obligations.

In mitigation, the court took into account that Song had admitted to all charges and shown remorse, that his health appeared to have affected his ability to serve, and that he had expressed willingness to complete his remaining service. Lee received a sentence of 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. The court found that Lee had actively participated in the service violations — including signing the duty log while knowing Song was absent — and convicted him as a co-perpetrator.

"Above all, I am deeply sorry to have disappointed the young people faithfully fulfilling their military duty, and to the fans who have cherished me more than anyone," Song wrote. "Every day has been filled with regret. I am ashamed of and disgusted by the irresponsible choices I made."

Song has not appealed the ruling. The Military Manpower Administration said that once the sentence is finalized, it plans to rescind his discharge, calculate the period during which he did not actually serve, and require him to complete that time. The length of the re-enlistment period will be determined after reviewing the court ruling and service records. The administration also signaled that administrative measures against the relevant service institution would follow.

Under the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, a person is reclassified into wartime labor service — in effect exempting them from further duty — only upon receiving an actual prison or penitentiary sentence of at least one year and six months. Because Song received a suspended sentence, his remaining service obligation stands.

"I will not avoid my foolish mistakes but reflect on them," Song wrote. "I will faithfully carry out the remaining procedures and obligations ahead of me. I will keep this incident in my heart and live with a greater sense of responsibility."

shee@heraldcorp.com