Military Manpower Administration reviews further service for Song Min-ho over 102-day absence

The Military Manpower Administration is reviewing procedures for WINNER member Song Min-ho to serve an additional 102 days following an unauthorized absence during his service as a social service worker, after his suspended prison sentence became final.

An official at the Military Manpower Administration said on the 16th that the relevant department was reviewing how to proceed with further service following the finalization of the first-instance ruling.

At a first-instance sentencing hearing at Seoul Western District Court on the 1st, Song Min-ho received a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years for violating the Military Service Act.

The sentence became final after Song Min-ho’s side did not file an appeal within seven days. This prompted the Military Manpower Administration to take steps toward additional service covering the 102 days of unauthorized absence.

After the sentence became final, Song Min-ho posted a handwritten apology on his social media on the 9th. He apologized for causing concern to many people, saying he bowed his head in apology and was especially sorry for disappointing young people faithfully fulfilling their military service obligations and his fans.

He said he felt ashamed of and hated his past irresponsible choices. He pledged to reflect on his foolish mistakes without evading them and to faithfully complete the remaining procedures and obligations.

Members of the public and online communities continued to criticize his apology as overdue. Critics questioned whether a suspended sentence was too lenient for a 102-day unauthorized absence and whether he would quietly return to entertainment after completing those days. Others asked what his conduct meant for the many young people serving diligently and argued that the offense was too serious to be settled with a single handwritten apology.

Read the original (Korean)