URGENT UPDATE: WINNER member Song Mino is on the brink of a potential prison sentence as new evidence reveals he allegedly neglected his military service duties more severely than previously thought. Authorities have confirmed that Mino, who served as a social service worker, has been found to have repeatedly failed to report for duty and left his assigned workplace without authorization.
Initial investigations uncovered over eight days of unauthorized absence, but prosecutors have now identified additional absences through forensic analysis of his cell phone and GPS data. This alarming development raises the total number of his unauthorized absence days, significantly increasing the likelihood of a prison sentence under the Korean Military Service Act Article 89. This law stipulates that leaving one’s service post without valid reason for eight days or more can lead to a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office has recently indicted Mino without detention for violating the Military Service Act, noting that the count of his confirmed absences grew during supplementary investigations. Officials from the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) explained that absences exceeding seven days are escalated to criminal charges, which is why Mino’s case was forwarded to police and subsequently to prosecutors.
Mino’s unauthorized absences occurred between March 2023 and December 2024, during his assignment in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Initially, he denied the allegations during two police interrogations but later admitted in a third questioning that he had indeed left his workplace during work hours.
As the number of confirmed absence days continues to rise, the possibility of jail time looms large, depending on the court’s decisions. Legal experts are closely monitoring the unfolding situation, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges against the popular K-Pop idol.
This breaking news has sent shockwaves through the fan community, with fans expressing concern for Mino’s future and the implications this might have on WINNER as a group. As more information becomes available, the impact of Mino’s legal troubles on his career and the group remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
