WINNER’s Song Mino has admitted his mistakes in a trial regarding violations of the Military Service Act. However, the service manager, referred to as “A,” who was indicted alongside him, is denying the charges. The two sides are set to clash in court next week as the prosecution attempts to prove the allegations.
The Seoul Western District Court will hold the second hearing for Manager A on the 21st. While Manager A continues to fight the charges, Song Mino has concluded all his pleadings, and his sentencing date will be determined later. The prosecution has requested a sentence of one year and six months in prison for Song Mino, who admitted to all the charges.
The first hearing for both individuals took place on April 21. They were indicted without detention on December 30, 2025, by the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office.
The prosecution pointed out that Song Mino, while serving as a social service agent, failed to report for duty and deserted his workplace for a total of 102 days, meaning he essentially did not perform his duties for a long period.
Manager A has denied the prosecution’s claims, stating, “I did not conspire with Song Mino to allow him to desert his service.” Consequently, the trial for Manager A will proceed, and he plans to prove his innocence through evidence during the next hearing.
The prosecution believes Manager A was complicit. It is reported that whenever Song Mino claimed he couldn’t come to work due to oversleeping or fatigue, Manager A permitted it and then falsified documents to make it look like he had attended. The indictment specifically mentions that in May 2023, Manager A told Song Mino, “I have training tomorrow, so I won’t be in. Let’s see each other on May 31,” which led to Song Mino skipping work. Manager A then allegedly filled out the daily service log as if Song Mino had been present.
With conflicting claims, all eyes are on how Manager A will explain his actions regarding Song Mino’s poor service. Depending on the testimony, further unknown details about Song Mino’s service may come to light.
In his final statement, Song Mino expressed deep remorse, saying, “I want to apologize to the judge and everyone here. As a young man of South Korea, I failed to faithfully fulfill my national defense duty until the end. I suffer from bipolar disorder and panic disorder, but I know these should never be used as excuses. As someone who receives love from many people, I feel truly sorry for showing such a shameful side. I am left with nothing but great regret over my choices.” He added, “I am currently receiving intensive treatment. I hope to recover my health quickly, and if I am given the chance to serve again, I want to complete it faithfully.”
Song Mino’s lawyer stated, “Song Mino admits to all the charges and is spending time reflecting on his failure to fulfill the sacred duty of military service. However, we ask the court to deeply consider the special circumstances when determining the sentence.”
The lawyer continued, “At the time of the incident, Song Mino was experiencing extreme mental distress due to severe bipolar disorder and panic attacks, as well as physical pain from a cervical rupture, making it difficult to perform normal duties. Due to this, he made a wrong judgment, forgetting the strict standards expected of a citizen. However, during the investigation, he did not avoid the weight of his past, voluntarily submitting evidence that could be unfavorable to him and cooperating fully. We ask for the utmost leniency so that he can respond properly to the nation’s call and become a sincere member of society once again.”
According to the prosecution, Song Mino served as a social service agent at a facility in Mapo-gu, Seoul, from March 2023 to December 2024, but is accused of neglecting his duties and deserting his post without a valid reason. Manager A is accused of neglecting supervision despite knowing about Song Mino’s negligence.
Having been judged as Grade 4 supplementary service during his physical exam, Song Mino served at the Mapo Facilities Management Corporation starting March 2023 and moved to the Mapo Resident Convenience Facility in March 2024. However, suspicions of poor service, including frequent sick leave and poor attendance, emerged before his discharge. It is known that he has been receiving treatment for panic disorder and bipolar disorder.
Song Mino was discharged on December 23, 2024. He was investigated by the Mapo Police Station on January 23, 2025. While he initially claimed he “worked according to the rules” and “there were no problems with his service,” he eventually admitted to the poor service and desertion after three rounds of investigation.
According to the indictment, Song Mino missed a total of 102 days without permission. Given that the total working days for a social service agent (excluding weekends and holidays) are approximately 430 days, he missed about one-fourth of his service. Notably, in July 2024, he missed 19 out of 23 working days, attending only 4 days.
