On November 19, the day of his military discharge, Kang Seung-yoon shared a heartfelt handwritten letter on the fan communication platform Weverse, thanking fans for waiting for him throughout his service.
Kang Seung-yoon wrote, “The struggles and triumphs that WINNER and you have shared until now gave me the strength to push past my limits… The experiences I’ve gained have strengthened me, and I am looking forward to creating new stories with that growth.”
Regarding WINNER’s comeback, he stated, “After enjoying a brief return to daily life, I’ll focus on completing about 10 songs for our 2024 goals and creating even better music. I will also seize any opportunity to appear in front of you... I’ll be back soon, holding hands with Jinwoo, Seunghoon, and Mino! I’ll bring you flowers! I love you, Inner Circles.”
However, Kang Seung-yoon’s promise to return with Song Mino stands in stark contrast to the ongoing controversy surrounding Mino’s military service. Song Mino began his alternative service at the Mapo Facilities Management Corporation on March 24, 2023, and was later transferred to the Mapo Resident Welfare Center. During this process, questions were raised about his relationship with the facility’s manager, L.
A report by Dispatch claimed they received tips about Mino’s inadequate attendance. The outlet stated they visited the site multiple times but never saw him on duty. Notably, Mino reportedly traveled to Hawaii for six days in late October and was also absent from work from November 11 to 15. In response, the welfare center countered, “He was on medical leave, using vacation days, and was hospitalized.”
YG Entertainment, Mino’s agency, said, “We cannot provide details about the artist’s service. However, the medical leave was for the continuation of treatment he had been receiving before his service. Other leaves were used in accordance with regulations.”
Meanwhile, Kang Seung-yoon, who enlisted in June 2022 as an active-duty soldier, completed his service on November 19. He was the only active-duty enlisted among WINNER members.
Below is Kang Seung-yoon’s full letter to fans:
To our Inner Circles,
On a hot summer day, I left your side with a mix of unease about an unfamiliar life and bittersweet feelings about the end of an intense first act. That day still feels vivid to me. Just as I imagine it did for you, it was my first time being away from you for such a long period, and I often worried whether the distance between us would grow.
But during my service, I never missed a single moment of the love and encouragement you sent my way through platforms like Weverse, letters, and social media. That unwavering support gave me daily comfort and helped me dedicate myself to a meaningful military life. Without your consistent encouragement, I wouldn’t have been able to endure it with a smile.
While I may not have expressed it often, whenever I faced challenges that pushed me to my limits, the one light that helped me overcome them was you. The struggles and triumphs that WINNER and you have shared until now gave me the strength to push past my limits. Thanks to you, I was a happy soldier, and because of you, I was loved by my comrades.
The experiences I’ve gained have strengthened me, and I am looking forward to creating new stories with that growth. After enjoying a brief return to daily life, I’ll focus on completing about 10 songs for our 2024 goals and creating even better music. I will also seize any opportunity to appear in front of you.
Thank you for waiting, for missing me, and most importantly, for loving me. I want to pour all the gratitude in the world into showing my appreciation. I wanted to show myself to you, even briefly, but please understand that I didn’t want to get carried away by excitement without the other members. I’ll be back soon, holding hands with Jinwoo, Seunghoon, and Mino! I’ll bring you flowers! I love you, Inner Circles.
Eat well, sleep well, and rest well! I love you so much.
Always yours, Kang Seung-yoon.
The post Kang Seung-yoon Stands by Song Mino Amid “Inadequate Military Service” Controversy appeared first on KBIZoOm. KBIZoOm – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment KBIZoOm – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment
