MC Mong's Candid Confession on Military Service Evasion Controversy
"There Was No Way for Me to Serve"
Director Na Young-seok Also Mentions '1 Night 2 Days' Team
Private video titled 'What if MC Mong had served in the military? MC Mong, some facts you didn't know' / Photo by Wonder K YouTube channel capture
[Asia Economy Online Issue Team] Singer MC Mong's YouTube video expressing his feelings about the military service evasion controversy has been set to private.
On the 1st, a video titled "What if MC Mong had served in the military? Some facts you didn't know about MC Mong" was posted on the Wonder K YouTube channel's 'Bonin Deungpan' segment.
In the video, MC Mong opened by saying, "I came here because they told me to do an interview to promote my album, but it turned out to be my own appearance. It's been 12 years since I last read comments." He then mentioned various keywords related to himself.
Regarding the controversial military service evasion allegations, he stated, "Due to an actual genetic disease, my teeth were at the level of a physical disability, and I had more than 10 teeth extracted because of the illness. The teeth that were said to be healthy and pulled out were not normal teeth, and the court thoroughly reviewed the medical documents and ruled me completely innocent." He added, "But no matter how much I explain... my family members are in similar situations," indicating there were misunderstandings.
In response to a comment saying, "The Ministry of National Defense said they would enlist you late, but MC Mong refused," he said, "That's the most absurd. I was exempted and found innocent, so there was no way for me to serve in the military even if I wanted to." He continued, "It's an unavoidable label. I don't even want to say 'I'm innocent.' That's why I haven't said much, but I think this is the first time I'm expressing it."
He shared, "It was hard and scary. I wondered if releasing an album was the right thing to do. My trauma syndrome score was dangerously high. I tried to overcome it by going out. I thought everyone would throw stones at me when I went out. But no one did. They shouted 'Did you miss me?' and cheered wildly, saying they really enjoyed my songs. I was healed by people," recounting an anecdote.
Regarding comments missing him from KBS2's '1 Night 2 Days,' he said, "I have no intention of rejoining that team (1 Night 2 Days). I don't want to cause any harm to those people. I don't even want to mention it." He added, "But what I'm really thankful for is that many people visited me when I was struggling. Director Na Young-seok, the writers. So now I can't be the one to contact them first," he confessed.
Finally, MC Mong declared, "I will live more morally from now on, and no matter what results come, I will repay everything throughout my life."
After the video was released and controversy arose through comments, Wonder K stated, "We accepted the criticism that the content was insensitive to public sentiment on the March 1st Movement Day and have set the video to private. We will be more careful in the future."
Meanwhile, MC Mong was tried in 2010 on charges of deliberately extracting teeth to avoid military service. In 2012, the Supreme Court acquitted him of violating the Military Service Act, but he was sentenced to six months in prison with a one-year probation and 120 hours of community service for obstructing official duties by falsely taking a civil service exam to delay enlistment. MC Mong will release his 9th full-length album 'Flower9' today (the 2nd).
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