Singer Park Seo-jin / Captured from his social media
By KTimes
Popular trot singer Park Seo-jin has publicly acknowledged his military exemption, following rising speculation and public scrutiny. Park posted a detailed message on his fan cafe, Monday, addressing the controversy surrounding his military status and offering an explanation.
“I apologize for having to address you with such disheartening news,” Park said. He said that in November 2014, at the age of 20, he was classified as a Grade 7 (reexamination required) during his initial military assessment.
After undergoing multiple reevaluations, he was finally assigned a Grade 5 (wartime labor service, exempt from active duty) in 2018. Park said that he has been receiving consistent medical treatment, including medication and therapy, for a psychological condition for over a decade.
Explaining why he had not disclosed his exemption earlier, Park said, “I feared that revealing a military exemption due to a mental health condition would lead to negative perceptions of me. I was worried it would impact my career, with fewer opportunities for appearances and performances.”
He also mentioned feeling apprehensive during a past interview when asked about his military plans, knowing he had already been exempted. “I deeply regret disappointing everyone and sincerely apologize once again,” he said.
Debuting in 2013 with the single "Dream," Park gained recognition through appearances on shows like "I Am a Trot Singer" and "Mr. Trot 2."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
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