"Mocking the Public"... Petition for Suspension of KBS Appearance Emerges
Inquiry to Military Manpower Administration on Change of Military Service Disposition
Trot singer Park Seo-jin confessed that he was exempted from military service due to family issues in his early twenties. Meanwhile, it was revealed that last year he made remarks implying that he was "about to enlist," which led to viewer complaints requesting KBS to suspend his appearances.
On the 28th, a petition titled "Please do not allow public figures who evade national defense duties to appear on public broadcasting" was posted on the KBS viewer petition board. Petitioner A stated, "As KBS is a public broadcaster prioritizing public interest, it should at least prohibit immoral public figures from appearing on programs and not even nominate them for awards at the prestigious year-end festivals."
A, who believed that Park Seo-jin would enlist within this year, said, "He himself said he wanted to create a hit song before enlisting," and criticized, "So why is there an article today revealing that he was exempted from military service due to a mental illness caused by family issues in his early twenties?"
Furthermore, A questioned, "Park Seo-jin debuted as a singer in 2013 in his early twenties with a single album. Is it possible for someone with a mental illness severe enough to receive a military exemption to carry out normal album production?" He added, "Such behavior beyond common sense towards fans who have supported him materially and spiritually to reach his current position is an act of mocking and deceiving the public," and criticized, "It is speechless that such a public figure was aiming for a rookie award on public broadcasting KBS this year."
Additionally, the interview content attached by A included Park Seo-jin saying, "I have a goal I definitely want to achieve before enlisting. I think I should create at least one hit song that the entire nation knows," and "It would be great if, when I hand the microphone to the audience, a sing-along song that everyone knows comes out." However, it is known that all references to the 'military' in Park Seo-jin's current interview have been revised.
A complaint was also filed with the Military Manpower Administration. Complainant B stated, "Park Seo-jin is currently active in broadcasting and has been selling out the 'Park Seo-jin SHOW' concerts every year since 2018, performing for numerous audiences. Given the explosive cheers from fans, it seems his mental and physical disabilities have now been cured," and requested, "Please respond whether it is possible for Park Seo-jin to submit a military service disposition change application to the local Military Manpower Administration director before the age of 36, when the obligation for active duty enlistment or social service or alternative service exemption applies, and have his military service disposition changed to active duty or social service."
Article 65, Paragraph 8 of the Military Service Act states that men who have been exempted from military service can have their disposition canceled and serve active duty or social service if their illness or mental disability is cured, according to a presidential decree. Military service exemption holders who wish to serve must submit a military service disposition change application to the local Military Manpower Administration director pursuant to Enforcement Decree Article 135-2 of the Military Service Act.
Park Seo-jin recently appeared on the KBS2 variety show "Men Who Do Housework 2" and opened up about his difficult past. He revealed, "During the 49th-day memorial service for my younger brother who suffered from chronic renal failure, my older brother, who was battling liver cancer, passed away due to complications from a liver transplant." After losing his two brothers, Park Seo-jin went through a tough time as his mother was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. To cover his mother's medical and living expenses, he dropped out of high school and started working on a boat with his father. Subsequently, he experienced depression and insomnia and was exempted from military service due to mental illness during the Military Manpower Administration physical examination.
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