A South Korean court has issued a suspended prison sentence to a prominent member of the music industry for breaking the nation's military enlistment regulations.

Song Min-ho, widely known by his stage name Mino from the boy band Winner, received a one-year prison term that has been suspended for a duration of two years. This judicial outcome allows the 33-year-old performer to remain out of confinement provided he stays free of further criminal offenses throughout his probationary window.

Legal proceedings revealed that the artist failed to show up for his assigned duties on numerous occasions while fulfilling his alternative service requirement. Between 2023 and 2024, Song worked as a social service agent at a public facility located in Seoul, an assignment granted to certain individuals due to health considerations.

Investigators calculated that the musician accumulated more than 100 unapproved absences across his nearly two-year assignment. During the proceedings, the presiding court emphasized that mandatory national service applies equally to all citizens regardless of celebrity status, though magistrates acknowledged that the defendant had acknowledged his wrongdoing and expressed contrition.

The investigation began shortly after Song completed his service term in 2024, following media coverage pointing toward irregular attendance and excessive medical leave. An official supervisor at the municipal center also received a suspended prison penalty for assisting the singer in bypassing his obligations by fabricating attendance logs.

South Korea mandates that all physically capable men complete a minimum of 18 months of military duty, a requirement that frequently intersects with the fast-paced entertainment sector. The intersection of celebrity status and conscription has historically drawn intense public scrutiny, with past scandals involving prominent performers facing legal consequences or repeated enlistments due to service evasion.

Prior to the court's decision, Song addressed reporters by expressing deep regret for his behavior and apologizing to his supporters. He declined to comment when asked whether he would undergo a re-enlistment process to properly fulfill his statutory obligations.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.