[Anchor]

Singer Song Mino, who has been accused of failing to properly report to work for over 100 days while serving as a social service agent, has been sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspension in the first trial. If the ruling is finalized, Song will have to serve an additional 102 days.

Reporter Lee Se-hyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Song Mino of the group WINNER entered the court with a stern expression and bowed his head.

[Song Mino : There is no room for excuse. I want to offer my apologies once again.]

Song was put on trial on charges of being absent without leave for 102 days and falsely explaining his absence to his assigned institution while fulfilling his 18-month mandatory service as a social service agent starting from May 30, 2023.

Previously, prosecutors sought a one-year and six-month prison sentence, viewing his actions as unauthorized departure from his workplace. However, the first-instance court sentenced Song to one year in prison with a two-year probation today (October 1).

The court stated, "Military service is a duty for the nation's existence and security, and it must be fulfilled diligently," emphasizing in particular that "there is high social interest regarding military service fulfillment by those in the broadcasting industry."

However, the court cited as sentencing factors the facts that Song admitted to the crime, was in poor health at the time, and expressed his intention to complete his remaining service.

The court also stated, "The fact that Song's unauthorized departures went undetected was because an accomplice, Lee, signed off on his regular attendance." Consequently, the court sentenced Lee, the person in charge of attendance management who was indicted alongside Song, to 10 months in prison with a two-year probation.

Throughout the trial, Song stated, "If given the opportunity to serve again, I will do so diligently," but he did not answer reporters' questions asking about his re-enlistment plans immediately after the first-instance sentencing.

[Song Mino : I will humbly accept the court's decision. (Could you also tell us about your re-enlistment plans?) ......]

The Military Manpower Administration explained to SBS, "Once the final ruling is confirmed, Song will have to serve the number of days he missed in accordance with the administration's procedures."

(Video by Cho Chang-hyun | Video Editing by Kim Yoon-sung | Design by Lee Jong-jung)