WINNER member Song Mino appeared at the Seoul Western District Court on April 20, 2026, for the first hearing in a case involving alleged violations of South Korea’s Military Service Act during his mandatory service period. Mino enlisted on March 24, 2023, and served as a public service worker at a welfare facility in Mapo-gu, Seoul, an alternative form of military duty assigned in specific cases. Prosecutors allege that between March 2023 and December 2024, he took more than 100 days of unplanned leave and was at times absent from his workplace during official hours, amounting to a failure to fully perform his duties. Although Mino completed his service and was discharged in December 2024, authorities are pursuing the case retrospectively, focusing on alleged breaches during his term. Prosecutors have requested an 18-month prison sentence. During a brief statement outside the court, Mino apologised for the situation, saying he regretted disappointing the public and those who support him. He also said he would be willing to re-enlist or complete any additional service if required. Military service is mandatory in South Korea for all able-bodied men, typically lasting 18 to 21 months, and cases involving public figures are often subject to scrutiny due to expectations of equal compliance. The case has drawn attention to WINNER, the four-member group formed by YG Entertainment, placing additional focus on the group as legal proceedings continue.
WINNER’s Song Mino faces trial over military service violations in Seoul
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