Winner Member Song Mino Faces Re-enlistment After 102-Day Unauthorized Absence

Song Mino, a member of the group Winner who was put on trial for leaving his post without authorization for 102 days while serving as a social service agent, is expected to serve again for the duration of his absence following the finalization of a suspended prison sentence.

Earlier today (Oct. 16), an official from the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) stated regarding Song's re-enlistment, "We are currently reviewing practical procedures to proceed with re-service following the finalization of the first-instance ruling."

The MMA had previously stated that once a conviction for violating the Military Service Act is finalized, it would take steps to have him serve the number of days he was absent from duty.

On October 1, the Seoul Western District Court sentenced Song, who was indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act, to one year in prison suspended for two years.

The court pointed out that military service is a fundamental duty to the nation and that social service agents are no exception.

However, the court took into consideration in its sentencing that Song admitted to the charges and showed remorse, and that his health condition appeared to have affected his service.

As Song did not appeal the ruling, the first-instance verdict was finalized.

Song was indicted on charges of leaving his workplace without justifiable cause and neglecting his attendance and duties while working as a social service agent at facilities such as the Mapo-gu Facility Management Corporation in Seoul from March 2023 to December 2024.

According to the indictment submitted by prosecutors, Song's unauthorized absences totaled 102 days.

Investigations showed that out of the approximately 430 days social service agents are actually required to report to work during their 21-month service period, he went AWOL for a quarter of them.

In particular, out of the 23 days he was scheduled to work in July 2024, he was found to have been absent for 19 days, working only 4 days.

During the trial, Song apologized for failing to faithfully fulfill his military duty.

While revealing that he has been receiving treatment for panic disorder and bipolar disorder, he stated that these conditions cannot serve as an excuse or justification for his actions.

He also stated that if given the opportunity to re-enlist after recovering his health, he would faithfully complete his service to the end.

While the Military Manpower Administration has begun practical reviews for Song Mino's re-service, the specific schedule and method for his re-enlistment have not yet been announced.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Lee Yu-jin | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.