Former VIXX member Ravi, whose real name is Kim Won-sik, broke his long public silence on March 27, 2026, posting a written apology on social media, confirming that he was officially discharged from military service on December 13, 2025, after completing the remainder of his duties following his conviction for violating South Korea’s Military Service Law.
In his post, Ravi acknowledged his wrongdoings and expressed deep regret. “I reflected on myself and realized how ashamed I was of myself for using my personal circumstances and environment as excuses when I should have moved on,” he wrote. He added that he understood that his “cowardly choices could hurt and harm others” and asked for forgiveness from those affected.
The 33-year-old rapper and songwriter had been largely absent from the public eye since his legal troubles began. In 2022, Ravi was indicted for conspiring with a military service middleman to fabricate a diagnosis of epilepsy in order to avoid active duty, according to Koreaboo.
According to the court case, he faked fainting episodes and submitted false medical documents, even pressuring a doctor to provide an opinion on treatment despite the doctor initially saying his symptoms were unconfirmed.
In August 2023, the Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Ravi to one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with 120 hours of community service. The court noted that although obstructing public duty through deception was a serious crime, Ravi was the first offender to admit his wrongdoing.
Ravi was serving as a civil service clerk since October 2022, but his service was suspended during the trial. After his conviction, he completed the remainder of his military obligation in accordance with South Korea’s Military Personnel Administration rulings before being discharged in December 2025. Chosun reported.
The controversy also had a lasting impact on his music career. In April 2023, shortly after prosecutors sought a two-year prison sentence, Ravi issued his first public apology and announced his withdrawal from VIXX.
He explained at the time that he had been the only profit-generating artist at his agency, Jellyfish Entertainment, and felt desperate to postpone signing up due to contractual obligations delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency confirmed his departure on the same day, as per Korea JoongAng Daily.
In his latest message, Ravi made no mention of plans to return to the entertainment industry. He closed his apology by stating, “I will continue to learn and discipline myself to become a better person in the future.”
