A recent controversy surrounding Mino’s performance as a social service worker has sparked a national conversation about military service in South Korea. Now, lawmakers are pushing for reforms to the Military Service Act.
Yoo Yong Won from the People’s Power Party has proposed a bill, dubbed the “Song Minho Prevention Act”. The bill introduces an electronic system to track the attendance and absence of social service workers.
The proposed revision bill requires the Military Manpower Administration to create an electronic system for tracking social service workers’ attendance, leave, and absences. This system would allow organization heads to digitally manage and monitor workers’ records.
Representative Yoo stressed the importance of revising the bill to ensure social service workers can serve in a stable and systematic environment.
Mino faced allegations of poor performance after a Dispatch report revealed he did not fulfill his duties as a social service worker. According to the report, he was close to the supervisor, in charge of monitoring attendance records. Dispatch accused the WINNER member of not showing up to work since October 30 and likely signing the attendance record in bulk.
The handwritten attendance records are the only proof of his attendance. Since it is nearly impossible to determine their accuracy, the management and reliability of the system were also criticized.
YG Entertainment responded to the allegations, stating that they cannot confirm specific details about his military service. However, they explained that Mino’s sick leave was due to the ongoing treatment he had been receiving before his service. The agency shared that all other vacation days were taken in accordance with regulations.
The investigation is ongoing over allegations of neglecting his military duty. A police official confirmed on January 6 that they intend to summon Mino after examining the evidence.
Meanwhile, Mino completed his social service on December 23 and has no plans to resume entertainment activities for the time being.