On June 22 at 6 PM KST, former VIXX member Ravi released his new digital single “Nyeok” (녘) across major online music platforms, marking his first music release since being embroiled in a military service evasion scandal.
“Nyeok” explores the various emotions and moments encountered throughout life, interpreted through Ravi’s personal perspective and artistic sensibility. The song is particularly significant because it represents the artist’s first official release after the controversy over his military service which temporarily interrupted his activity and sparked widespread criticism from the public.
Earlier this year, on March 27, Ravi addressed fans with a lengthy statement. “Hi, I’m Ravi. It’s been a long time since I last greeted you,” he began. The rapper explained that while serving as a civil service employee since October 2022, he was involved in legal proceedings related to violations of the Military Service Law, which resulted in his service being terminated. Following instructions from the Military Manpower Administration, he completed the remainder of his required service and was officially discharged on December 13, 2025.
Ravi also expressed remorse for his actions. He admitted that during the ordeal he realized he had been seeking understanding by using his personal situation as an excuse instead of taking full responsibility for his actions. He also acknowledged that his decisions had caused harm to others and offered further apologies to those affected. The singer pledged to continue learning from his mistakes and strive to become a better person moving forward.
According to prosecutors, Ravi was charged without detention for conspiring with a military service intermediary identified only as Mr. Gu. Investigators said Ravi attempted to evade military service by pretending to suffer from epilepsy and obtaining a false medical diagnosis that could potentially qualify him for military exemption.
Authorities said Ravi was given an “epilepsy scenario” by the broker and acted as if he had had a seizure during medical tests. Even after a doctor reportedly concluded that no symptoms were present, Ravi allegedly continued to request medications and search for documentation to support treatment for epilepsy.
Prosecutors also revealed that after Ravi submitted medical documents suggesting suspected epilepsy to the Military Manpower Administration in 2021, the broker texted him saying, “Well, you’re exempt from military service.”
During the first hearing of the trial, on April 11, Ravi admitted all the prosecution’s charges. After obtaining the grade 4 supplementary service classification, he carried out alternative service as a public service employee starting from October 2023.
The court ultimately found him guilty of violating the Military Service Act and sentenced him to:
- One year in prison
- Two years of probation
- 120 hours of community service
In its ruling, the court said Ravi and the broker had carefully planned the scheme despite Ravi not actually suffering from epilepsy. The judges noted that the crime was serious because it involved attempting to evade military service and obstructing public officials by deception. However, the Court also considered several mitigating factors, including:
- Ravi is a first time offender
- His admission of wrongdoing
- Demonstrated remorse
- His eventual fulfillment of military obligations
As a result, the court suspended the prison sentence rather than imposing immediate incarceration. Although Ravi accepted the court’s first ruling and announced that he would not appeal, prosecutors contested the sentence, arguing that it was too lenient. They had initially asked for a two-year prison sentence. However, the appeals court ultimately upheld the lower court’s ruling, maintaining the one-year prison sentence with two years suspended.
After his discharge from the alternative service and public apology, Ravi gradually signaled his return to music by sharing photos of himself working in the studio. With the release of “Nyeok,” the artist officially began a new chapter in his career. It remains to be seen whether audiences will embrace his return, but the release marks his first major step back into the music industry following one of the most significant controversies of his career.
Sources: Daum | stellar news
