KBS responded to the petition for the removal of singer Park Seo-jin, who was embroiled in controversy over military exemption, stating that the exemption was legal.
The production team of KBS2's 'Mr. House Husband 2' (hereafter 'Mr. House Husband') posted a response on the KBS viewer petition board on the 27th, expressing gratitude for the sincere words from the viewers concerning Park Seo-jin, and addressed the petition for Park's removal related to his military exemption.
Mr. House Husband stated, "As a public broadcasting KBS program categorized under the entertainment genre, we are always contemplating the social responsibilities of broadcasting in our production. Therefore, we deeply regret this controversy."
They continued, "As reported by various media outlets, participant Park Seo-jin was exempted from military service through multiple physical examinations for legitimate reasons. The term 'avoidance of military service' is deemed inappropriate. Additionally, regarding the controversial interview, Park Seo-jin explained and apologized through a post he made. Mr. House Husband primarily portrays the weight and responsibility of being the head of a household, rather than the glamorous image of a celebrity on stage."
Furthermore, they stated, "Since joining Mr. House Husband in January, Park Seo-jin has been responsible for his family's livelihood and enduring numerous tragic family events, including losing two siblings, taking the place of his parents who battled cancer since childhood, as revealed through our broadcast. The reason for his military exemption also stemmed from illnesses related to this life journey."
They added, "Although the controversial interview did not reveal the truth, Park Seo-jin confided in us before his participation in Mr. House Husband about the reasons for his military exemption, which were sincere. Over the past year, the production observed his treatment process. While Park Seo-jin appears glamorous on stage through various content, we have continually observed him overcoming life's challenges as a young man in his 20s. Our intention is to deliver this journey with authenticity and offer empathy, comfort, and encouragement to viewers going through similar hardships."
Finally, they added, "We will strive to authentically capture the lives of our participants with more responsibility, reflecting the interest shown by many viewers in this controversy."
Moreover, the production team addressed another petition concerning Park Seo-jin, stating, "There is no legal or moral violation regarding the military exemption, which was granted for legitimate reasons. We are not fully aware of his past relationships with fans and reporters or circumstances that may result from these connections. However, these do not significantly affect our decision on his participation in the program." They emphasized their commitment to sincerity, expressing gratitude and determination to always show more truthful aspects.
Previously, Park Seo-jin's military exemption was belatedly revealed, and his agency stated, "Park Seo-jin was exempted due to a mental disorder influenced by family circumstances in his early 20s." Park had previously disclosed his unfortunate family history on several broadcasts, including the loss of two brothers who suffered from chronic kidney disease and liver cancer, along with his mother being diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer.
However, it was revealed that Park Seo-jin, who was exempted from military service in his early 20s, made statements during interviews suggesting he was about to enlist, which sparked controversy over false statements.
Eventually, Park Seo-jin expressed regret in a post on his fan cafe, stating, "I am only filled with apologies for addressing this situation that has caused concern," and explained, "In Nov. 2014, at the age of 20, I was classified for a 7th-grade reexamination in the military fitness test. After several additional evaluations, I received the final classification of the 5th-grade wartime labor in 2018."
He continued, "In a past interview, when asked about my future goals as I was supposedly approaching military enlistment, it was difficult to immediately disclose my exemption. Hence, I mentioned achieving a hit song, which had been my constant dream, as my goal. I did not anticipate that this response would escalate into such a significant issue." He apologized deeply to all those who felt disappointed by the incident.