On Wednesday, January 17, the Seoul Northern District Court revealed its decision to hand a one-year jail term, suspended for two years, to a 32-year-old member of a boy group. 

According to The Korea Herald, the individual was found guilty of pretending to have a mental disability to evade active military service, a direct violation of South Korea's Military Service Act, which mandates all eligible men to serve in the military for a minimum of 18 months.

The court also ordered the defendant to complete 80 hours of community service as part of the suspended sentence. The accused had undergone physical examinations by the Military Manpower Administration in 2011 and 2017, passing both and receiving approval for active duty.

However, in an effort to avoid military service, the defendant intentionally displayed psychological symptoms and provided incorrect answers during tests. This led a local hospital to diagnose him with a mild mental disability, enabling him to apply for alternative service options designed for individuals considered unfit for active duty.

Despite the claim of a mental disability, with an intelligence quotient (IQ) testing at 60, the court, considering the defendant's successful preparation for his debut and active participation in K-pop group activities, concluded that he did not genuinely have a mental disability.

In delivering the verdict, the court acknowledged the defendant's confession, absence of a criminal record, and commitment to fulfilling his military duties. Authorities have chosen to withhold the identity of the accused, a member of an undisclosed all-male K-pop group that debuted in 2018.

Korean netizens commented, "Who is the idol? Please stop bringing shame to Korea," "I tried to find who this was but I've never heard of him lol," "He might be the next Steve Yoo, lol," "Even BTS went," "He has that kind of mindset, no wonder he didn't make it big," "This is the reason celebrities who really have health issues have a hard time when they don't go for active duty," "Maybe we can make him disabled," "His name is An Do Mo but I don't know him, lol," "Maybe he does really have mental issues, trying to do something like this," "The doctor who diagnosed him and said he has IQ of 60 is a quack," and "I get that he doesn't want to service in the military but this is just so ridiculous."