A member of an idol group who had been diagnosed with an intellectual disability in an attempt to evade active military service has been sentenced to probation. According to legal sources on the January 17 KST, Mr. Ahn (32), who was facing charges of violating the Military Service Act, has been handed a one-year prison sentence with two years of probation. Additionally, he has been ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.

The Seoul Northern District Court's Criminal Division 9 cited several reasons for this sentencing decision. They took into account Mr. Ahn's acknowledgment of his wrongdoing, the fact that this was his first offense, and his commitment to fulfilling his military service obligation in the future.

Mr. Ahn had previously been classified as eligible for class 1 and 2 active duty service in 2011 and 2017, respectively. However, while working as a member of an idol group, he faced accusations of attempting to evade his military service duties. In May 2020, he obtained a diagnosis of intellectual disability and submitted it to the Military Manpower Administration.

Prior to this, Mr. Ahn had received treatment at a hospital in Seoul for approximately seven months starting in October 2019. During this time, he reportedly provided exaggerated or distorted responses during comprehensive psychological tests, feigning psychological problems or cognitive dysfunction. Mr. Ahn had informed the doctor that he experienced severe depression, contemplated suicide, and had inexplicable heart palpitations and difficulty breathing.

Based on the medical evaluations, Mr. Ahn was issued a certificate from the hospital indicating that he had a "mild intellectual disability" and was classified as eligible for conscription as a level 4 social welfare worker. The medical certificate further recommended psychiatric observation and drug treatment for a minimum of one year.