"Ordinary Man Bolts for 163 Days, Idol for 102 Days"...Is Social Service Just a Joke?

Court Sentences Defendant to 10 Months in Prison, Suspended for 2 Years

A man in his 30s who deserted his post for an extended period while serving as a social service agent has received a suspended prison sentence.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on the 21st, Judge Park Donguk of the Criminal Division 3 Single Bench at the Chuncheon District Court sentenced Mr. A (32), who was indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act, to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence.

Mr. A was indicted on charges of deserting his service without justifiable reason for a total of 163 days, from May 13, 2024 to January 16, 2025, while working as a social service agent at an institution in Chuncheon.

The Military Service Act stipulates that if a social service agent deserts his or her service without justifiable reason for a total of 8 days or more, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 3 years. For short-term desertion of up to 7 days, the period of service is extended by five times the number of days absent, but if the absence exceeds 8 days, the person becomes subject to criminal punishment without the option of a fine.

The court explained the reasons for sentencing, stating, "The defendant has admitted to the crime and appears to be reflecting on his actions, but he deserted his service without justifiable reason, which reflects poorly on the nature of the offense, and the period of absence was also very long."

Meanwhile, Song Minho, a member of the group Winner, is facing charges of deserting his service without justifiable reason by being absent without leave for 102 days while working as a social service agent at the Mapo-gu Facilities Management Corporation and resident convenience facilities in Seoul. The first trial date is scheduled for April 2026.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.