WINNER‘s Mino, whose legal name is Song Min-ho, was handed a one-year prison term suspended for two years by the Seoul Western District Court for violating South Korea’s Military Service Act. The first-trial ruling, delivered on October 1, 2026, closes one stage of a case that has followed the 33-year-old rapper since questions about his alternative service first surfaced. It also opens another, because the sentence does not resolve whether he will be required to make up the 102 days he missed.
The outcome matters far beyond one idol’s career. Military service is a structural fact of life for every male K-pop star, and the rules around alternative duty, missed workdays, and suspended sentences are things fans search for long after a single news cycle ends. Here is what the ruling actually says, what it does not say, and what still has to happen before this case can be called finished.
Mino’s Military Service Case at a Glance
Mino debuted as a member of WINNER in 2014 and has built a parallel solo career as a rapper and artist. His service took an alternative form: from March 2023 to December 2024, he worked as a social service agent at a facility in Seoul’s Mapo District rather than serving on active duty.
South Korea requires most able-bodied men to complete mandatory military service, generally at least 18 months. Some are exempt, and others are assigned alternative duty at public institutions and other designated facilities. Social service agents fall into that second category, and the court made clear it treats their obligations the same as any other form of service.
Prosecutors said Mino failed to report to his assigned workplace without a valid reason on 102 nonconsecutive days out of roughly 430 required workdays, about one quarter of his total obligation. The case became public in December 2024 after allegations about his attendance emerged and police opened an investigation at the request of the Military Manpower Administration.
Mino was indicted, and at his first hearing in April 2026 he admitted the charges.
What Mino’s Sentence Actually Means
The October 1 ruling came from Criminal Division 10 of the Seoul Western District Court. Mino received one year in prison, suspended for two years, and he was not taken into custody after the decision. Prosecutors had asked for 18 months.
The suspended sentence needs unpacking for US readers. It is not a dismissal, and it is not a jail term already served. A prison sentence was handed down but set aside, and it can be activated if the terms of the suspension are violated within a two-year window. Some outlets described the outcome as “two years of probation,” which points to the same result but can mislead anyone picturing the American probation system.
The court was direct about the seriousness of the charge. “Military service is a duty to ensure the security and existence of the state and must be faithfully fulfilled,” the court said. “Social service agents are no exception.” It added that the 102 days of unauthorized absence “cannot be considered a minor offense.”
Mitigating factors carried weight. The court took into account Mino’s admission of the charges, his expressed remorse, and the fact that he had been receiving psychiatric treatment.
Under the Military Service Act, a social service worker absent without a legitimate reason for a cumulative eight days or more can face up to three years in prison. That low threshold explains why 102 missed days became a criminal case rather than an internal disciplinary matter.
The supervisor who managed Mino’s service and was tried alongside him received 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. Prosecutors had sought one year for him, and the court found he logged Mino as having reported to work even though he knew about the absences. Accountability landed on both the person who skipped duty and the official who recorded him as present.
Could Mino Have to Serve 102 More Days?
This is the most misreported part of the story. The Military Manpower Administration has described additional service as possible, not ordered.
“If the ruling is finalized, he will have to serve again for the number of days he was absent from duty,” an MMA official said. For Mino, that figure is 102 days.
The condition matters. The October 1 decision is a first-trial ruling and is not final. If either side appeals, the case continues, and no additional service would begin until the outcome is settled. The exact timing, format, and location of any makeup duty would then depend on the MMA’s determination.
One distinction is worth keeping straight: headlines using “re-enlist” are imprecise. The MMA’s language is about serving again for the days he missed, not starting a fresh full service term.
What Mino Has Said About the Case
Mino has not disputed the core facts. At his April 2026 hearing, he told reporters, “I humbly accept and acknowledge whatever punishment is given to me.” Asked whether he was sincere about serving again if given the chance, he answered, “Yes, that’s right.”
Before the October ruling, he apologized outside the courthouse. “I am full of regret and remorse. I am also sorry to my fans,” he said. “I have depression and panic disorder, but I know fully well that these conditions should not serve as an excuse or justification for what I did. I hope to recover my health as soon as possible and, if given the opportunity to complete my service, to complete it faithfully. The responsibility for not showing up to work is mine alone.”
After the sentence was delivered, he said, “I will humbly accept the court’s decision.”
His side has denied that the absences were arranged in advance with his supervisor, and the supervisor also denied prior collusion. That point was contested, not proven.
What This Means for WINNER and His Future
Nothing in the reporting confirms a change to Mino’s status in WINNER, a disbandment, a broadcast ban, or a freeze on his solo work. No agency statement has been issued, and any claim about comebacks or endorsements is speculation until an official announcement exists.
Two variables govern what happens next. The first is whether the ruling is appealed and when it becomes final. The second is the MMA’s decision on those 102 days after finalization. Until both are resolved, the honest answer for fans asking about future activities is that the timeline is still open.
Mino Case FAQ
Did Mino go to prison? No. He received a suspended sentence and was not taken into custody after the first-trial ruling.
Will he have to serve again? Possibly 102 days, but only if the ruling becomes final. The MMA has not issued an order.
Is he still a member of WINNER? Nothing in the sourced reporting indicates otherwise. Any change would require an official announcement.