On October 30, 2024, Song Mino of the WINNER went to Hawaii for five nights and six days. Shipping visited the Mapo community service facility on 11 November. Mino works here as a social worker and is in charge of assisting with the operation of the facility.
But Mino was nowhere to be seen. Dispatch returned on November 12, 13, 14 and 15 and was unable to meet him. Even after his trip to Hawaii he didn’t go to work.
Although there have been repeated reports of Mino’s poor service as a public service employee, Dispatch summarized it in four points.
- Song Mino moved to the Mapo community service facility in March.
- Manager L brought Song Mino to this position after receiving a transfer order.
- After the move in March, Song Mino no longer showed up to function properly.
- When he shows up to work every now and then, he signs autographs and smokes a cigarette before leaving.
The Dispatch verified the credibility of Song Mino’s report.
- Song Minho transferred his job in March. (OR)
Song Mino started his social service work at Mapo Facility Management Corporation on March 24, 2023. A year later, in March 2024, he transferred to the residents’ convenience facility.
- L, the manager of “resident facilities”, assigned Song Mino to this position. (OR)
L worked at Mapo Facility Management Corporation. He was Song Mino’s supervisor at that time. L moved into the resident facility in February and brought Song Mino over a month later.
- Song Mino has not worked properly since March. (△)
We learned of Song Mino’s dereliction of duty in October. Dispatch visited the facility more than ten times from November to December and we didn’t see him once.
- He appears from time to time and signs a lot of autographs and leaves. (△)
The dispatcher asked L about Song Mino’s participation status. He refused to provide any information, saying it was personal information (attendance records are personal and CCTV is private).
However, we managed to get some information from L. Manually record attendance and sign next to the date. This could mean that he could sign off on the dates all at once.
Participation was manipulated
Dispatch confirmed during the on-site investigation that Song Mino’s performance report was credible. Most importantly, he was never seen during the ten or more times we visited the facility. The deeper problem is the suspicion of the relationship between Manager L and Song Mino.
The switchboard monitored the entrance from 9am to 7pm in the second week of November, and Song Mino was nowhere to be seen. Other employees also said they had never seen him.
However, Manager L revealed that he continued to come for work after his vacation in Hawaii. When we asked to see the documents or CCTV, he said it was personal information. He seemed desperate to hide Song Mino’s poor performance.
This is the conversation between the switchboard and Director L on December 3rd.
Shipping: Does Song Mino work here? Did he come to work today?
the: Yes, work here. He used the annual leave he had left today.
Shipping: So he also came to work in November?
the: YES.
Shipping: When we checked, he didn’t come to work.
the: He did.
According to L, December 3 was his annual leave. L stated: “So far he has managed to work well. He received permission for his trip abroad and used his annual leave today.”
Dispatch visited the facility again on December 4.
Shipping: Did Song Mino come to work today?
the: I received a call from you today around 9:00 am. He said he was taking a sick day. He said it would take three days. He will probably start coming to work on Monday.
Shipping: Since your house is close by, do you walk to work?
the: No, he comes by car and parks in the underground car park. I guess you didn’t know he has a lot of cars.
Shipping: Yes, it has many.
the: He has some really nice cars and some normal cars. There is a yellow one and many others. He drives a normal car to go to work.
(Song Mino’s “normal” car is an Aston Martin. His really nice cars are his Jeep Wrangler, and the yellow car is his Mercedes-Benz SLK.)
If you used your annual leave on 3 December and your sick leave on 4 December, did you come to work on 9 December? The dispatcher visited the facility again.
Shipping: HI. Did Song Mino come to work today?
the: I got a call from your manager. They said he was hospitalized. He’s been feeling ill for a while. Has panic disorder, etc. Looking at the diagnosis, it seems that he has many diseases.
The dispatcher asked him when he last came to work.
Shipping: We haven’t seen Song Mino once until now. When was the last time you came to work?
the: Came to work on December 2nd.
Shipping: Do you have any documents proving that he came to work that day?
the: Honestly, I’ll check if Song Mino came to work later. He doesn’t come to the office. If he’s in the break room next door, I’ll go check.
Shipping: What time do you check?
the: If I don’t have work to do, I check in the morning. If I have something to do, I’ll check back later.
Dispatch: How do you monitor his presence if he is in the break room?
the: There is no document other than the work stamps. I’ll call him if he doesn’t show up.
Shipping: So you’re saying there are times he didn’t show up without permission?
the: No. If he doesn’t show up, I’ll call him. If he says he uses sick leave, I ask for a doctor’s note. This is how he uses his annual or sick leave.
Shipping: Have you confirmed that Song Mino was admitted to the hospital today?
the: I heard it from the director. It is difficult to confirm hospitalization.
A life of intelligent public service
THE National Human Rights Commission of Korea studied the service status of public service workers in 2013. It was found that one in three workers had poor job performance.
They recommended establishing a Guidelines for the service of public service workers. If service management was necessary, they ordered attendance to be recorded electronically, using a work attendance card.
However, even after ten years, nothing seems to have changed. Attendance records are still written by hand. This allows attendance to be falsified at the manager’s discretion.
The head of the social services division also responded: “I understand that Song Mino is carrying out his duty normally.” They continued, “Even during the controversy over Song Mino’s long hair, I went to the scene and checked his clothing. I am in communication with L, the manager of the facility.”
Dispatch is republishing reports received in October.
- “There was a time when Song Mino’s clothing was a topic on the news. The officers came out and only pointed out the state of her hair. Song Mino was at home at the time and only came out after receiving a phone call.” (Anonymous Report 1)
- “Even if it is an alternative service, he still has to do his best for military service. Is it considered right to be discharged without going to work for almost a year just because he is famous? Please check if it will work normally. (Anonymous Report 2)
Finally, we checked what Manager L thinks about the problem.
But celebrities have a hard time working. They sit at their desks and sleep all day. Song Mino also has a small room without people.
— Director L
Let’s hear more about its management policy.
Shipping: We received reports that he barely came to work. After the check he never showed up. But since you keep saying that, did he really work 10 to 7?
the: Sometimes he slept in the middle. There is a room next door. Sometimes he used his annual leave and sometimes he went to hospital.
Shipping: So you’re saying it worked without any problems?
the: Well, we hid him in the next room to prevent him from being exposed. Many people came to visit him and he had some physical and mental difficulties.
Shipping: What did you do when you came to work?
the: Organized the receipts and cleaned the GX room. I put it in places where it can’t be seen…
YG entertainment also denied allegations of poor service, “He carries out his military service normally.” When Dispatch revealed they had never seen him at work, they responded: “We cannot confirm personal situations.”
Meanwhile, Song Mino is expected to be discharged from the army on December 23. It is expected that he will not return to work for the remainder of the period. The Dispatch has also received further reports that he is preparing a discharge party on December 24 and 25.
