Rapper Mino takes break from military to walk his sister down the aisle in San Francisco

Rapper Mino attended his younger sister’s wedding in the U.S. on Sunday, raising questions about how he attended the ceremony overseas while serving his mandatory military duty.

Photos uploaded by Mino’s sister Song Da-na, on her Instagram on Sunday showed Mino walking Song down the aisle in San Francisco. Mino is believed to have taken the role of the siblings’ father in the ceremony after he died last year.

Mino started serving as a social service agent in March 2023.

Mino’s agency YG Entertainment told the local media on Tuesday that Mino had attended his younger sister’s marriage overseas after abiding by due processes, adding that the artist did not have to do his basic military training.

“Mino was classified by the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) to be exempt from basic military training,” said YG Entertainment.

In Korea, all young men are required to serve around one and a half years in the military unless determined unfit for service.

Men who get a lower grade on their physical evaluation can substitute their military service by serving as a social service agent at a public institution for 21 months unless they otherwise volunteer for active duty. Social service agents must also attend a three-week basic military training at an army boot camp prior to or during their service period.

However, men with valid reasons, may be exempt from the required basic military training. Those serving as social service agents must complete three weeks of basic training while those serving in the military must complete five weeks.

People who are currently serving as social service agents can leave the country for a short period of time after receiving permission from both the MMA and the head of the organization they serve in.

Neither Mino nor YG Entertainment revealed why the star received a lower grade on his physical evaluation.

Mino, whose real name is Song Min-ho, debuted as a rapper in the boy band Winner in 2014.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]