The court issued a suspended sentence of one year in prison, suspended for two years, meaning Song will avoid jail if he commits no further crimes during the probationary period. The judgment, delivered on Thursday, noted that military service is a duty to be performed “faithfully” and that social service agents are “no exception”.
The singer admitted to the charges and showed remorse, the court acknowledged.
Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men must serve at least 18 months in the military. Those deemed unfit for regular service due to health reasons are assigned alternative roles as social service personnel. Song worked at a community centre in Seoul.
Authorities began investigating Song shortly after his discharge in 2024, following local media reports that he was frequently absent and took excessive sick leave.
Song’s supervisor at the social service centre also received a suspended jail sentence for helping him evade his duties, including falsifying records to make it appear that Song had reported to work.
The case adds to a long-running public debate in South Korea about the military service obligations of entertainers. Singer Psy was required to enlist twice after a court ruled he had neglected his duties during his first service stint. Pop star Steve Yoo was also embroiled in a controversy over his service.