Song Min‑Ho Faces Suspended Jail for Military Service Evasion

In a ruling Thursday, a Seoul court handed 33‑year‑old K‑pop star Song Min‑Ho—stage name Mino of the group Winner—a one‑year prison term that is suspended for two years after he was convicted of violating South Korea’s mandatory military service law.

During the 21 months he worked as a social‑service worker at a community centre from 2023 to 2024, authorities found he was absent for 102 occasions, often claiming illness. The court said social‑service agents must “serve faithfully,” and that the punishment was appropriate for the number of offences.

The suspended sentence means Mino will avoid jail if he commits no crimes during the two‑year probationary period. He admitted the charges and expressed remorse to the court.

Investigations began after his 2024 discharge when local media reported his excessive sick leave. His supervisor was also given a suspended jail sentence for falsifying attendance records to conceal the absences.

This case follows a history of controversy around South Korea’s entertainment stars and their obligations to serve. Following a 2003 ruling, Psy had to enlist again in 2007 after continuing shows during his first service. In 2002, pop icon Steve Yoo avoided service, later renouncing citizenship and becoming a U.S. citizen, which led to his ban from South Korea.

The entertainment industry’s rapid pace means many artists face career break threats, but evading service still incurs severe public and legal backlash. In a statement reportedly read to reporters, Mino expressed remorse and thanked fans for their love, though he declined to comment on future re‑enlistment.