SEOUL — Song Mino, a 33-year-old member of the K-pop group WINNER, has received a suspended prison sentence for habitually abandoning his assigned workplace while serving as a public service worker.

On the morning of the 1st, Judge Sung Jun-kyu of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 10 sentenced Song to one year in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of violating the Military Service Act.

According to the court, Song was indicted for unauthorized absences totaling 102 days between May 30, 2023, and December 2, 2024. During this period, he fulfilled his alternative military service at a facility management corporation and community convenience facility in Mapo-gu, Seoul, where he colluded with a supervisor identified by the surname Lee to cover up his absences.

Lee, the management official who aided Song’s dereliction of duty, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Explaining the sentencing rationale, Judge Sung stated, "Military service is a fundamental duty of citizens that must be faithfully performed, and public service workers are no exception." The judge added, "Given his high social profile as a public figure in the entertainment industry, his responsibility is heavy."

However, the court took mitigating factors into account, noting that Song has admitted to all charges, expressed remorse, and suffered from health issues that affected his service attitude. The court also considered his clean criminal record with no prior penal history.

Regarding the co-defendant Lee, the judge pointed out, "He contributed to helping Song complete his service at the scheduled time without detection. Although Lee was fully aware of Song's absenteeism and knew it could cause future problems, he repeated the illegal actions."

During the sentencing trial held last April, prosecutors had demanded a 1.8-year prison term for Song and a one-year prison term for Lee.

Leaving the courthouse after the ruling, Song told reporters, "I accept the court's decision and deeply reflect on my actions." However, when questioned by journalists about his future plans regarding mandatory re-service, he chose to remain silent.

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