Mino (real name Song Minho), rapper and member of YG Entertainment’s boy group WINNER, has been revealed to have been involved in a car accident back in June, adding another layer of public concern amid his ongoing military service controversy.
Particularly, according to a report from Maeil Business Newspaper on July 4, the accident occurred on June 14 near Dapsimni Station in Yongdap-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Mino was reportedly a passenger in a taxi at the time. While the collision was not serious, he later visited a hospital as a precautionary measure to check for any potential aftereffects.
Meanwhile, Mino began serving as a social service worker in March 2023. However, allegations of unauthorized absences and leaving his post without permission have surrounded him in recent months. Initial statements from YG Entertainment defended his actions, saying, “The sick leave was an extension of ongoing medical treatment that began before his service, and all other leave was taken according to regulations.”
However, during a final investigation held on February 26, the male idol reportedly admitted to most of the violations, including leaving his workplace during duty hours without permission, marking a shift from his earlier denials.
Under current Korean military law, such infractions can lead to extensions in service duration, calculated as five times the number of days absent. In severe cases, prison sentences of up to three years are possible for those who abandon their post for 8 days or more. Nevertheless, once someone has started as a social service worker, re-enlistment as an active-duty soldier is not legally allowed.
In the wake of these developments, YG Entertainment announced in May that WINNER will hold a concert on July 25, marking the group’s first in 3 years and 3 months. Only Kang Seungyoon, Kim Jinwoo, and Lee Seunghoon will perform, leaving out Mino.
