Trot Singer Park Seojin Faces Military Service Exemption Controversy
"Avoiding Military Service" vs "Legitimate Exemption" Debate
Park Seojin: "Mental Illness Due to Family Issues... Experienced Depression"
Trot singer Park Seojin (29) was revealed to have been exempted from military service a long time ago, leading to a series of viewer complaints both for and against his appearances on KBS on the broadcaster's viewer board. Park Seojin Instagram
Famous trot singer Park Seo-jin (29) has sparked controversy after it was revealed that he was exempted from military service due to a mental illness.
Earlier, Park Seo-jin's agency, Tajo Entertainment, announced on the 28th of last month, "Park Seo-jin was exempted from military service in his early 20s due to a mental illness caused by family issues." In response, some netizens criticized him, saying, "Park Seo-jin had already been exempted from military service long ago but deceived the public as if he was about to enlist." Last October, Park Seo-jin said in an interview with a media outlet, "I have a goal I want to achieve before enlisting in the military," adding, "I think I should create at least one hit song that everyone knows."
On the KBS viewer petition board, a complaint was also raised, stating, "Please do not allow public figures who evade national defense duties to appear on public broadcasting." On the 28th of last month, petitioner A said, "I thought Park Seo-jin would enlist within this year. He himself said he wanted to make a hit song before enlisting," and asked, "Why is it only today that it is revealed he was exempted from military service in his early 20s due to a mental illness caused by family issues?" He continued, "Such behavior beyond common sense towards fans who have supported him in every way to reach his current position is an act of mocking and deceiving the public."
Two days after the petition was posted, on the 30th of last month, another petition was submitted requesting the deletion of the previous petition, stating, "Malicious commenters are claiming that a legitimate military exemption is military evasion. Please delete the petition." Petitioner B wrote, "With just one interview without fully understanding the circumstances, Park Seo-jin's legitimate military exemption is being portrayed as military evasion," adding, "If it were proven that Park Seo-jin's exemption was due to corruption, then petitioning would be appropriate, but is military exemption possible through corruption in our country?" He further wrote, "Instead of giving courage to a young man who has endured difficult times well, actions like saying 'Now that you are fully recovered, go to the military' or 'Don't let him appear on broadcasts' seem like trying to kill a person."
"Mental illness is inevitable" vs "He had plastic surgery and did everything else"
Some netizens defended Park Seo-jin, leaving comments such as, "On the day of the 49th-day memorial service for his younger brother, his older brother, who was battling liver cancer, passed away. How could he not develop a mental illness?" "He only found out that his parents remarried after his brothers passed away," "If you are a fan of Park Seo-jin, you can understand how hard he has been," and "His bright appearance on broadcasts is just for the show." On the other hand, critics of Park Seo-jin posted comments like, "He boasted about spending 100 million won on plastic surgery," "He went on trips and did everything else but can't go to the military," "I was a fan of Park Seo-jin but I'm very disappointed," and "At least he shouldn't think about appearing on public broadcasting."
Meanwhile, on the KBS2 program 'Men Who Do Housework Season 2' aired on the 30th of last month, Park Seo-jin revealed that he had previously made an extreme attempt, shocking viewers. Park Seo-jin's father said during psychological counseling, "There was a time when things didn't go well, and Seo-jin took medication once." Park Seo-jin had also shared his heartbreaking family story on a past broadcast. He appeared on KBS1's 'Human Theater' and revealed that on the 49th-day memorial service of his younger brother, who suffered from chronic renal failure, his older brother, who was battling liver cancer, passed away one after another due to complications from a liver transplant. When his mother was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer, he dropped out of high school to support the family by working on a boat with his father. Later, he suffered from depression and insomnia and was exempted from military service after a physical examination by the Military Manpower Administration.
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