Mino admits negligence in military service case
Mino, 33, of K-pop group Winner, has admitted to charges of failing to properly fulfill his duties during his military service.
He is accused of negligence while serving as a social service agent at the Mapo Facilities Management Corporation and the Mapo Resident Convenience Facility in Seoul from March 2023 to December 2024—an alternative form of military service.
According to the prosecution, Mino failed to report to work consistently and, on days he did show up, often stayed only briefly before leaving. His total absence reportedly reached 102 days out of 430 days of required service—nearly a quarter of his term.
On April 21, the Seoul Western District Court held the first hearing for Mino and a supervisor identified as Lee, who also faces charges, including violations of South Korea’s Military Service Act. The trial had originally been set for March 24 but was postponed at the request of Mino’s legal team.
Prosecutors have asked the court to sentence Mino to one year and six months in prison.
In court, Mino admitted to all charges and expressed remorse. “If given the opportunity to serve again, I will fulfill my duties faithfully until the end,” he said, according to Korean media reports.
His lawyer stated that the singer deeply regrets his actions and urged the court to consider his circumstances. The defense cited mental health struggles, including bipolar disorder and panic attacks, as well as physical pain from a ruptured cervical spine.
In his final statement, Mino apologized and acknowledged his failure. “As a citizen of the Republic of Korea, I did not faithfully carry out my duty of national defense,” he said. “My illness should never be used as an excuse.”
He added that he is currently undergoing treatment and hopes to recover and complete his service if given another chance.
Mino debuted with Winner in 2014.