In brief
South Korean court has handed K‑pop star Mino a suspended one‑year prison sentence for violating the country’s military service law. The 33‑year‑old, who performed as a social worker at a community centre, was found to have missed work 102 times over 21 months. The judge said his absences broke the duty that all able‑bodied men must fulfil, yet noted his remorse. His supervisor also received a suspended sentence for falsifying records.
A South Korean court concluded that K‑pop star Mino (real name Song Min‑ho) broke the country’s military service law and gave him a suspended one‑year prison term.
The idol, 33, had worked as a social‑worker in a Seoul community centre from 2023 to 2024 after being assigned as a social‑service agent for health reasons. Yet court documents show he missed 102 shifts during that 21‑month period.
South Korea requires all able‑bodied men to serve at least 18 months of military service; those who cannot serve health‑wise can be hired as social‑service personnel. “Military service must be performed faithfully,” said the judge. However, Mino admitted his wrongdoing and showed remorse, which the court considered when imposing the suspended sentence.
The suspended sentence means he will not go to jail unless he commits another crime in the next two years. His supervisor also received a suspended jail term for falsifying attendance records.
The case adds to the long‑running debate over entertainers’ national service, with past incidents involving stars such as Psy and Steve Yoo drawing heavy public and legal scrutiny.
