Singer Song Min-ho (33) of the idol group "Winner," who was sent to trial on charges of skipping work without leave for more than 100 days while serving as a social service worker, denied colluding with the management supervisor, saying leaving his post was his own responsibility.
On the 14th, the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 10 single-judge bench (Judge Seong Jun-gyu) held the third hearing for A, the duty management supervisor indicted on charges including aiding and abetting a violation of the Military Service Act, and conducted witness questioning of Song.
That day, Song testified that while it was true he borrowed money from A, it was not in return for helping him leave his post, adding that leaving his post was entirely his own responsibility.
Song said, "It was simply an act based on personal acquaintance and not compensation at all for helping me leave my post," and, "I never explicitly or implicitly colluded or conspired with the defendant to leave my post." He then told A, "I feel very sorry."
At the same time, Song testified in court that, with A's permission, he sometimes did not report for work or filled out attendance records after the fact. Song said, "There were days I could not go to work or went to work but could not sign, so I filled them out in a batch," adding, "When my condition was not good, Mr. Lee also told me to rest."
When prosecutors asked, "If attendance had been managed properly, wouldn't it have been difficult to be absent without leave for a long period?" Song answered, "It seems they were considerate of me."
Duty management supervisor A was indicted together on charges of aiding Song's dereliction of duty in collusion with him.
Song is accused of leaving his workplace without permission, including being absent for more than 100 days, while serving as a social service worker at a facility in Mapo-gu from March 2023 to December 2024.
At Song's first hearing on charges of violating the Military Service Act in April, prosecutors sought a 1-year, 6-month prison term. At the time, Song acknowledged all the allegations but appealed for leniency.