[All] Song Min-ho, Dispatch article on suspicion of manipulating public service attendance

On October 30, 2024, Song Min-ho went on a trip abroad. The destination was Hawaii. The trip was for 5 nights and 6 days.

'Dispatch' visited Mapo Community Service Facility on November 11. Song Min-ho works here as a social worker. He is in charge of assisting with the operation of the community service facility.

But I couldn't meet Song Min-ho. It was the same on the 12th, the 13th, the 14th, and the 15th. Even after returning from his trip to Hawaii, Song Min-ho didn't show up for work.

There have been repeated reports of poor service by 'public service worker' Song Min-ho. They can be summarized in the following four points.

① Song Min-ho moved his workplace to Mapo Convenience Facility last March.

② After being transferred here, Manager L brought Song Min-ho with him.

③ Song Min-ho has not been going to work properly since his transfer in March.

④ Sometimes he shows up, signs for work, smokes a cigarette, and disappears.

'Dispatch' verified the credibility of Song Min-ho's report.

① Song Min-ho changed his workplace last March. (O)

Song Min-ho began his alternative service at Mapo Facility Management Corporation on March 24, 2023. Then, a year later, in March 2024, he moved to a public convenience facility.

② Mr. L, the person in charge of the ‘resident facilities’, assigned Song Min-ho to this location. (O)

Mr. L worked at Mapo Facility Management Corporation. At the time, he was the supervisor in charge of Song Min-ho. Mr. L moved to a public convenience facility last February. And a month later, he brought Song Min-ho.

③ Song Min-ho has not been going to work properly since March. (△)

We first became aware of Song Min-ho's dereliction of duty in October of last year. 'Dispatch' visited the facility more than 10 times between November and early December. However, we never saw Song Min-ho even once.

④ Occasionally appears, gives autographs, and disappears. ( △ )

'Dispatch' asked the person in charge, Mr. L, about Song Min-ho's attendance status. He refused to provide any information, citing personal information as the reason. (Attendance records are personal information, and CCTV footage is also personal information).

However, I was able to get some information from Mr. L's words. He said that he kept a record of his work hours by hand. He signed it next to the date. It was a situation where he could do it all at once.

◆ Attendance is manipulated

'Dispatch' confirmed the scene and found that Song Min-ho's report of poor service was credible. Above all, he was not seen even once during the 10 or so visits to the facility.

A more serious problem is the suspicion of 'jjamjjami' between Song Min-ho and person in charge L.

'Dispatch' guarded the entrance from 9 AM to 7 PM throughout the second week of November. Song Min-ho was nowhere to be seen. Other employees also responded, "We have never seen (Song Min-ho)."

However, Mr. L said that he continued to go to work after his Hawaiian vacation. When asked, "Can I see my work attendance records or CCTV footage?" he waved his hand, saying, "That's personal information, so it's impossible."

He was desperate to hide Song Min-ho's poor performance. When 'Dispatch' checked Song Min-ho's attendance on site, he would say things like, "Today is annual leave," "Today is sick leave," and "Today is hospitalization."

The following is a conversation between Dispatch and Mr. L. It was on December 3rd.

Dispatch (hereafter D): Mr. Song Min-ho, do you work here? Did you come to work today?

Mr. L: Yes, I work here. I used my remaining vacation days today.

D: So, did you come to work here in person in November too?

Mr. L: Yes.

D: When we checked, he hadn't come to work.

Mr. L: I did.

According to Mr. L, December 3rd is his annual leave. He explained, "I have been going to work well so far," and "I got permission to travel abroad, and today I used my annual leave."

'Dispatch' visited again on December 4th.

D: Did Song Min-ho come to work today?

Mr. L: Oh! I got a call around 9 AM today. He said he was going to take sick leave. He said he would take a total of 3 days starting today. Shouldn't he be out starting on Monday?

D: (Song Min-ho) Since your house is close, do you walk to work?

Mr. L: No. Let's go underground by car. You don't realize there are so many cars.

D: Yes. There are so many.

Mr. L: There are some really nice cars, some are just regular cars, some are yellow, and there are many different ones. I take a regular car to work.

(Song Min-ho's regular car is an Aston Martin. His really nice car is a Jeep Wrangler, and his yellow car is a Mercedes SLK.)

I used my annual leave on the 3rd and my sick leave on the 4th. Then, did I stamp my attendance card on the 9th (Monday)? I visited Mapo Convenience Facility again.

D: Hello. Is Song Min-ho here today?

Mr. L: I got a call from the manager. He said he was hospitalized. He hasn't been feeling well for a while. He has panic disorder, etc. According to the diagnosis, (the list of illnesses) is quite long...

'Dispatch' asked about his last day of work.

D: I haven't seen Song Min-ho until now. Then when was your last day of work?

Mr. L: I went to work on December 2nd.

D: Do you have any records proving that you went to work that day (the 2nd)?

Mr. L: Actually, I also check Song Min-ho's arrival at work later. He doesn't come into the office. He sits in the break room next door, so I check.

D: What time do you usually check?

Mr. L: If I don't have work, I check in the morning. If I have something scheduled, I check later.

D: I'm in the break room. How do I check in?

Mr. L: There is no specific record other than the attendance stamp. I check it and call (if it doesn't show up).

D: So you're saying there were times when you didn't come out without permission?

Mr. L: That's not it. If you haven't come, call. If you say, "I'm not feeling well, so I'm taking sick leave," you get a medical certificate. There are cases where people take annual leave or sick leave that way.

D: Did you confirm that Song Min-ho was hospitalized today (the 9th)?

Mr. L: I heard from the manager. It is difficult to confirm the admission.

◆ Smart public service life

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea investigated the service status of public service workers in 2013. It was revealed that one in three public service workers was in a poor service condition (caution, serious, or alert).

The Commission on Civil Rights recommended that the Military Manpower Administration prepare a 'Public Service Code of Conduct'. If necessary for service management, it ordered that attendance be recorded 'electronically', such as through a work attendance card.

But even after 10 years, nothing has changed. Public service workers' attendance records are written manually. It is a system where attendance records can be forged at the discretion of the person in charge.

Even the Military Manpower Administration's surveillance function was ineffective. The head of the Social Service Division of the Military Manpower Administration in Mapo responded to Dispatch, "I believe Song Min-ho served normally."

He continued, "When there was a controversy over Song Min-ho's long hair, I went to the scene and checked the state of his clothing," adding, "I am constantly communicating with the person in charge of the relevant organization (Mr. L)."

Song Min-ho lives just over 1km away from Mapo Convenience Facility. It is a distance where he can respond to surprise inspections by the Military Manpower Administration. Moreover, if he has decorated his attendance sheet nicely, he will have no problem until he is discharged.

'Dispatch' is reposting a tip it received last October.

"There was a time when Song Min-ho's clothing issue was on the news. It was said that a person from the Military Manpower Administration came and only pointed out the condition of his hair and left. At that time, Song Min-ho was at home, but he received a phone call and rushed out." (Anonymous Report 1)

"Even if it is an alternative service, you must do your best in your national defense duties. Is it fair to be discharged without going to work for nearly a year just because you are a famous star? Please confirm that you are going to work and working normally." (Anonymous Report 2)

Lastly, what are the thoughts of Mr. L, the person in charge of Mapo Convenience Facilities?

"But celebrities really have a hard time working. They just lie down at their desks. They sleep all day. Song Min-ho sometimes stays in a small room where no one is around."

Let's hear more about his management policy.

D: We received reports that you rarely come to work. We checked directly and found that you never show up. But since you keep saying that you come to work regularly, we keep asking you. Are you really working from 10am to 7pm?

Mr. L: There are times when I sleep in between. There are rooms next to each other. There are times when I use my annual leave and don't come out, and there are also times when I go out and go to the hospital.

D: So, your position is that you worked without any problems?

Mr. L: Actually, I hide him (in the next room) so that he doesn't get exposed. That's because people come (to see Song Min-ho). And he has some physical and mental difficulties.

D: So what do you do when you go to work?

Mr. L: Right now, I'm working on organizing our receipts and things like that. I'm also cleaning the GX room. I'm taking Song Min-ho to a place he can't be seen...

YG Entertainment denied the allegations of malpractice, saying, "He is working normally." When asked, "We have never seen him go to work," they only repeated, "We cannot confirm personal circumstances."

Meanwhile, Song Min-ho will be discharged from the military on the 23rd. It is expected that he will not return to work for the remainder of the period.

Instead, I heard that there is additional news that a global party is being prepared for the 24th and 25th... I'm so disappointed..?