Song Min-ho (33), formerly of the group Winner, said at the first trial on charges of poor attendance as a social service worker that he intends to resume service. Some claimed Song would have to serve five times the roughly 100 days he was absent without leave, but it was confirmed that if convicted, he would need to serve only the recognized period of absence.
According to legal sources on the 22nd, Song appeared for a hearing on a Military Service Act violation at the Seoul Western District Court the day before and delivered his final statement. He said, "As someone who receives the love of many people, I am sorry for showing a shameful side instead of setting an example," and added, "If I am given a chance to resume service, I want to complete it diligently to the end."
Song was indicted on charges of leaving his post without permission, including being absent for more than 100 days, while serving as a social service worker at a facility in Mapo District, Seoul, from March 2023 to December 2024. Since he admitted all the charges, a guilty verdict is likely.
Separate from the level of criminal punishment, attention is focusing on Song's additional service period. In online communities, claims have spread citing Article 33 of the Military Service Act that Song would have to serve again for about 500 days, five times the days of unauthorized absence.
However, Article 33 of the Military Service Act applies when a social service worker leaves service without justifiable reason for seven days or fewer. It is intended to discipline a relatively short period of absence.
In cases like Song's, with eight days or more of unauthorized absence, Article 89, Paragraph 2 of the Military Service Act applies. He can face criminal punishment of up to three years in prison, and separately, after cancellation of the discharge from call-up, he must serve again as a social service worker for the number of days he was absent.
Put simply, even if Song is found guilty, the Military Manpower Administration said he would not start over from the beginning or serve an additional 500 days, but would serve again only for the roughly 100-day absence period.
It is also realistically difficult to re-enlist as an active-duty soldier. Re-enlistment as active duty is possible when there is a significant defect in the military service disposition process itself. There would have to be fraud or a problem in the process by which Song received a supplementary service (grade 4) ruling in the Military Manpower Administration physical examination, but that is unrelated to the current charges.
It is also far from the case of singer Psy (Park Jae-sang, 48), who re-enlisted as an active-duty soldier after completing service as an industrial technical personnel and running into problems. An official at the Military Manpower Administration said, "Psy re-enlisted as an active-duty soldier because he had performed alternative service while holding active-duty status," adding, "Song was subject to social service, so if a guilty verdict comes, he will serve again as a social service worker."
However, it is uncertain whether Song will continue service at the Mapo District facility where he previously worked as a social service worker. If the Military Manpower Administration determines that normal duty is difficult, it can order reassignment of the service agency.
Prosecutors asked the court to sentence Song to one year and six months in prison. Song's sentencing date will be set after holding a continued hearing on the 21st of next month for the supervisor in charge of managing his service, who was indicted together.