Protest Truck Claims ‘OT3’ is the WINNER Amid Song Mino’s Public Service Controversy

Controversy Surrounding WINNER’s Song Mino: Allegations and Backlash

On December 24, Dispatch published a report raising concerns about Song Mino, a member of the popular K-pop group WINNER. The exposé alleged that Mino has displayed “poor performance”while serving as a public service worker, reporting instances of neglecting his responsibilities and manipulating attendance records.

In response to these allegations, YG Entertainment, Mino’s agency, issued a statement addressing the complexities surrounding the idol’s situation at the Mapo Resident Convenience Facility. The agency highlighted the difficulty in verifying the claims made in the Dispatch report.

YG Entertainment clarified that Mino’s frequent utilization of sick leave and annual leave aligns with established policies, stating that the leaves represented an “extension”of ongoing treatment he had been receiving before starting his service.

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Public Reaction and Protest

The controversy escalated, leading to significant backlash from the online community. This situation came to a head on January 5, when Korean netizens organized a protest via a community forum titled “Winner’s Korean Fans’ Truck Protest Regarding Song Mino in Front of YG.”

Within the forum, protestors shared images of a truck displaying messages that expressed their demand for WINNER to be recognized as a three-member group, excluding Mino. The protestors insisted that YG should ensure the activities of remaining members Jinu, Hoony, and Yoon.

K-Inner Circle send trucks in front of YG demanding Winner to promote as 3 membershttps://t.co/08huDgyhWu pic.twitter.com/UJVNql8cj1

— pannchoa (@pannchoa) January 6, 2025

Calls for Accountability

The protest truck not only demanded changes regarding group representation but also criticized YG Entertainment’s lack of responsiveness. One message read, “YG, state your intention to cooperate with the investigation responsibly and don’t remain silent.”

Furthermore, the protestors called for protection of the remaining members from misleading information stemming from what they described as YG’s non-compliance. While the demands did not explicitly mention Mino, the context suggested an underlying intent to hold him accountable for the ongoing controversy and to distance him from the group dynamics.

As this situation develops, it reflects broader themes of accountability and transparency within the K-pop industry, drawing attention to the pressures faced by idols and their agencies.

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