[instiz] SONG MINHO, MINIMUM OF 8 DAYS AWAY FROM WORK… POSSIBILITY OF PRISON SENTENCE GROWS

The likelihood of a prison sentence is increasing for singer Song Minho, who is accused of neglecting his military service obligations. This is because the number of days he allegedly left his assigned workplace has continued to rise as the investigation has progressed.

Police who handled the initial investigation confirmed that Song had been absent from his assigned workplace for at least eight days, and additional instances of absence were identified during the prosecution’s supplementary investigation. According to legal experts, the greater the number of confirmed days of absence, the higher the possibility of a prison sentence.

Recently, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Song without detention on charges of violating the Military Service Act, citing repeated unauthorized absences while he was serving as a social service worker. In announcing the indictment, prosecutors stated that they had confirmed additional workplace absences during the supplementary investigation. By conducting forensic analysis of his mobile phone and reviewing GPS records, they uncovered absences that had not previously been identified.

As a result, the total number of days Song was absent from his assigned workplace is expected to far exceed eight. An official from the Seoul Mapo Police Station, which handled the initial investigation, explained, “When the Military Manpower Administration files a complaint against a service member suspected of leaving their workplace, the standard is eight days or more. Our police investigation also confirmed eight or more days, so we forwarded the case.”

The figure “eight days” is a key benchmark in the charges against Song under the Military Service Act. Article 89 of the Act stipulates that “any social service worker, arts and sports service member, or alternative service member who, without justifiable reason, is absent from service for a total of eight days or more, or who fails to perform service in the relevant field, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to three years.” In other words, if Song left his service without justifiable reason for eight days or more, he could face up to three years in prison.

A source familiar with investigations by the Military Manpower Administration said, “When the Administration investigates workplace absences, absences of seven days or fewer are handled internally by extending the service period. Only when it exceeds eight days is the case referred for criminal proceedings.”

This means that after the Military Manpower Administration confirmed Song’s absences and filed a complaint, the same findings were confirmed again during police and prosecutorial investigations. In the subsequent supplementary investigation by prosecutors, additional days were added.

As the number of confirmed days of unauthorized absence during military service increases, the possibility of a prison sentence also rises. A former military judge advocate turned lawyer commented, “The more days there are, the more the legal requirements for punishment are met.”

Song is accused of neglecting his military duties by failing to report to work as scheduled while serving as a social service worker in Mapo District, Seoul, from March 2023 to December 2024. He began alternative service in March 2023 and was discharged from service on December 23 last year.

Song denied the allegations twice during police questioning, but during a third round of questioning, he largely admitted to leaving his workplace during working hours.

1. I hope we never see him again 

2. Just why did he do this? He was working as a social worker too… He even had a good career on the side thanks to Na Youngseok 

3. There’s not many idols who got imprisoned d*mn…

4. Wow imprisonment ㄷㄷ..

5. There was talk that the police couldn’t prosecute because they couldn’t prove the charges, but they did a good job ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

6. Reap when you sow 

7. Let’s imprison him ㅠ 

8. Honestly there are so many people who didn’t serve their entire service, but he’s the one who blew his own case out of the water

9. He should withdraw and go to prison 

10. But why did you evade the truth when you’re already under investigation like this? If it’s related to alternative service, even if you sneeze an extra vacation, there are witnesses all around you. Did you think that if you just denied it, there would be no evidence?