On November 19, the day of his military discharge, Kang Seung-yoon shared a heartfelt handwritten letter on fan communication platform Weverse, thanking fans for waiting for him during his service.
Kang Seung-yoon wrote, “The struggles and triumphs you and WINNER have shared thus far have given me the strength to overcome my limitations… The experiences I have gained have strengthened me, and I look forward to creating new stories with that growth.”
Regarding WINNER’s return, he stated: “After enjoying a brief return to daily life, I will focus on completing around 10 songs towards our 2024 goals and creating even better music. I will also take every opportunity to introduce myself in front of you... I’ll be back soon, holding Jinwoo, Seunghoon and Mino’s hands! I’ll bring you flowers! I love you, Inner Circles.”
However, Kang Seung-yoon’s promise to get back with Song Mino stands in stark contrast to the ongoing controversy over Mino’s military service. Song Mino began his alternative service at the Mapo Facilities Management Corporation on March 24, 2023 and was later transferred to the Mapo Resident Welfare Center. During this trial, questions were raised about his relationship with the facility’s director, L.
A Dispatch report said it had received tips about Mino’s inappropriate participation. The outlet said it had visited the site several times but had never seen it in service. Notably, Mino reportedly traveled to Hawaii for six days in late October and was also absent from work from November 11-15. In response, the social welfare center retorted: “He was on medical leave, using vacation days, and was admitted to hospital.”
YG Entertainment, Mino’s agency, said: “We cannot provide details about the artist’s service. However, medical leave was to continue treatment received prior to service. Other leaves were used in accordance with the regulations.
Meanwhile, Kang Seung-yoon, who enlisted in June 2022 as an active duty soldier, completed his service on November 19. He was the only active duty enlistee among the WINNER members.
Below is Kang Seung-yoon’s full letter to fans:
To our inner circles,
On a hot summer day, I left your side with a mixture of unease about an unknown life and bittersweet feelings about the end of an intense first act. That day still seems vivid to me. Just as I imagine it was for you, it was the first time I had been away from you for such a long period, and I often feared that the distance between us would not increase.
But throughout my service, I never missed a single moment of the love and encouragement you sent me through platforms like Weverse, letters, and social media. That unwavering support gave me daily comfort and helped me dedicate myself to a meaningful military life. Without your constant encouragement, I would not have been able to bear it with a smile.
While I may not have expressed it often, every time I faced challenges that pushed me to my limits, the one light that helped me overcome them was you. The struggles and triumphs that you and WINNER have shared thus far have given me the strength to overcome my limits. Thanks to you I was a happy soldier and thanks to you I was loved by my comrades.
The experiences I have gained have strengthened me, and I look forward to creating new stories with this growth. After enjoying a brief return to daily life, I will focus on completing about 10 songs towards our 2024 goals and creating even better music. I will also take every opportunity to present myself in front of you.
Thank you for waiting for me, for missing me and, above all, for loving me. I want to pour all the gratitude in the world into showing my appreciation. I would have liked to show myself to you, even briefly, but know that I didn’t want to get carried away by emotion without the other members. I’ll be back soon, holding Jinwoo, Seunghoon and Mino’s hands! I’ll bring you flowers! I love you, Inner Circles.
Eat well, sleep well and rest well! I love you so much.
Always yours, Kang Seung-yoon.
