WINNER's Song Min-ho (Mino) will have to go back to mandatory service. His conviction for missing 102 days of work during alternative service became final on its own, because nobody appealed it.
What did the MMA confirm about Song Min-ho's reenlistment?
On Friday, October 16, 2026, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) confirmed that Song Min-ho must reenlist. Song, 33, is a member of WINNER. The MMA gave its reason: a court had convicted him of not showing up for work during his alternative mandatory service, and that ruling became final with no appeal . The agency has not yet said how long he will serve again or where.
Quick Answer: On October 16, 2026, South Korea's Military Manpower Administration confirmed that WINNER's Song Min-ho must reenlist. His conviction for missing 102 days of social service work between March 2023 and December 2024 became final without an appeal. The MMA has not yet announced how long the extra service will be or where he will serve.
The key figure is 102 days. That is how many days Song failed to report to his duty station as a social service agent in Mapo District, Seoul, between March 2023 and December 2024 . According to the Korea Times, the MMA said his reenlistment was confirmed once the ruling became final .
The MMA did not give any further details in its announcement. One official described what happens next:
"We plan to comprehensively review the exact period of the reenlistment and his next duty station based on the ruling, and notify Song of the results," an official at the Military Manpower Administration said (source: Korea JoongAng Daily).
Here is where things stood as of October 16, 2026 :
- Confirmed: Song must reenlist, because his conviction under the Military Service Act is final.
- Not yet announced: how long the extra service will be.
- Not yet announced: where he will serve next.
- Next step: the MMA will review the ruling and then notify Song directly.
What did the court rule on the 102 missed days?
The Seoul Western District Court found Song Min-ho guilty of violating the Military Service Act on October 1, 2026. It sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years . The case was heard by Criminal Single Division 10, under Judge Sung Jun-gyu (source: Seoul Shinmun, 2026-10). A suspended sentence means he does not go to prison unless he commits another offence during the two-year probation period.
The charge was that Song failed to report to his duty station for a total of 102 days. Those absences came during his alternative service as a social service agent between March 2023 and December 2024 . A social service agent is a conscript who completes mandatory service at a public institution instead of a military unit. According to Hankook Ilbo, he worked at the Mapo-gu Facilities Management Corporation and at a residents' convenience facility in Mapo District, Seoul .
Court coverage from StarNews gives more detail. It says his alternative service term was about 430 days, and that July 2024 was his worst month, when he worked only 4 of the 23 days he was required to work .
"Military service is a fundamental obligation of the state that must be fulfilled diligently. Alternative service personnel are no exception." — Seoul Western District Court, in its October 1, 2026 sentencing (source: StarNews)
The court also listed factors in his favour when it set the sentence :
- He admitted all of the charges.
- He showed remorse.
- His health appeared to have affected his military service.
Song did not appeal the first-instance verdict, and neither did prosecutors, so the sentence stood unchanged and became final . That final verdict is what triggered the Military Manpower Administration's reenlistment decision (source: Korea JoongAng Daily, 2026-10).
How long will Song Min-ho have to serve again?
Song Min-ho is expected to serve about 102 more days. That matches the 102 days he missed, but the figure is not official yet. The Military Service Act says that a social service agent who gets a suspended sentence for leaving duty must serve extra days equal to the days he was absent. Korean media are using that rule to estimate his remaining service (source: Seoul Shinmun, 2026-10).
The Military Manpower Administration first pointed to this outcome on the day of the verdict. On October 1, 2026, it said that once the verdict was final, "he is expected to re-serve for a period equal to the number of days he was absent from duty" , according to StarNews. On October 16, 2026, the agency confirmed the reenlistment but did not announce the exact length or where he will serve. Those details become official only when the MMA notifies Song directly (source: Hankook Ilbo, 2026-10).
Korean outlets also point out what this reenlistment is not:
- Not a restart: His alternative service designation has not been cancelled. He will not have to begin again from day one as an active-duty soldier, as has happened in some other celebrity cases (source: Asia Economy, 2026-10).
- A make-up period only: He serves again only for the days he missed. Under the expected calculation, that is the 102 days the court found he was absent.
- Exact terms still pending: The MMA has not yet announced the length or the next duty station.
That limited scope has drawn some criticism. Sports Kyunghyang reported online reaction questioning whether making up only the missed days is enough . This is reported public reaction, not a position taken by the court or the MMA.
Timeline: From 102 absent days to the MMA announcement
Song Min-ho's case went from a service record to a finalized penalty in about 20 months. His social service duty ended in December 2024. On October 16, 2026, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) confirmed he must reenlist . Each step below comes from court records, MMA statements or Song's own public statement.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Mar 2023 – Dec 2024 | Song serves as a social service agent in Mapo District, Seoul. During that time he fails to report to his duty station on 102 days . |
| Oct 1, 2026 | The Seoul Western District Court gives him one year in prison, suspended for two years. Song attends the hearing and apologizes in person, according to Yonhap's press photo caption. The MMA says he would have to re-serve once the verdict is final . |
| Oct 9, 2026 | Song posts a handwritten apology on Instagram. He says he will reflect without avoiding responsibility and will faithfully carry out the remaining procedures and duties . |
| Oct 16, 2026 | The MMA confirms his reenlistment after the ruling becomes final without an appeal. It will tell him the period and his next duty station later . |
The record shows that Song did not appeal. On October 1 the MMA said the case would lead to re-service, and on October 16 it confirmed that outcome. Song's apology came in two forms: in person at the October 1 hearing, then in writing on October 9 . Reporting is available from The Korea Times, Korea JoongAng Daily, StarNews, Seoul Shinmun and Asia Economy.
What is still unknown and what to watch next?
Two key details have not been announced yet: how long Song Min-ho will serve again and where he will serve. The Military Manpower Administration has confirmed that he must reenlist. It said it will decide the exact period and his next duty station based on the ruling, and then tell Song the results . As of October 16, 2026, neither detail had been made public .
The 102-day figure is still an expectation. It comes from the Military Service Act, which requires a social service agent to make up the days he was absent. It only becomes official when the MMA notifies Song .
- Next official update: the MMA's notice to Song, which will set the re-service period.
- Duty station: to be assigned in the same notice.
- Not covered here: the court and the MMA have said nothing about WINNER's schedule, Song's career or fan response, so this article does not discuss them.
The bottom line: Song's reenlistment is confirmed, and the length and location of his service depend on one document still to come from the MMA. Fans should watch for reports from The Korea Times and StarNews when that notice is issued.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Song Min-ho have to serve again?
WINNER member Song Min-ho has to serve again because a court found him guilty of violating the Military Service Act. He failed to report to his social service post for 102 days between March 2023 and December 2024 . The Seoul Western District Court ruled on Oct. 1, 2026, and the verdict became final because no appeal was filed. The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) confirmed his reenlistment on Oct. 16, 2026 , according to Korea JoongAng Daily.
How many extra days will Song Min-ho serve?
Song Min-ho is expected to serve about 102 extra days, but this is not official yet. The figure matches the number of days he was absent. Under the Military Service Act, a social service agent who receives a suspended sentence for leaving duty makes up the days he missed . As of Oct. 16, 2026, the MMA had not announced the exact period. It said it will review the ruling and then notify Song , as The Korea Times reported.
Will Song Min-ho go to prison?
No, Song Min-ho will not go to prison under this ruling. On Oct. 1, 2026, the Seoul Western District Court sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years . In practice, the consequence is extra alternative service to make up the days he missed. He does not have to restart his full service term from the beginning , according to Asia Economy.
Where will Song Min-ho serve his remaining duty?
Song Min-ho's next duty station had not been announced as of Oct. 16, 2026. An MMA official said the agency plans to "comprehensively review the exact period of the reenlistment and his next duty station based on the ruling, and notify Song of the results" . His original service was in Mapo District, Seoul, at the Mapo-gu Facilities Management Corporation and a residents' convenience facility , as Hankook Ilbo reported.
Did Song Min-ho respond?
Yes, Song Min-ho apologized twice. He apologized in person when he attended the sentencing hearing on Oct. 1, 2026. On Oct. 9, 2026, he posted a handwritten apology on Instagram. In it he said he would reflect on his actions without avoiding responsibility and would faithfully complete the remaining procedures and duties , according to Seoul Shinmun.
Official Sources
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