K-pop star Ravi of VIXX probed over hiring broker to dodge South Korea military service
- The singer is accused of using the services of a middleman, who was recently arrested, to manipulate his health records to evade mandatory conscription
- Prosecutors suspect more entertainers and professional athletes may have been involved in the scandal
According to local media reports on Friday, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office examined phone conversations and messages the broker, surnamed Ku, exchanged with his “clients” to give them “consultations” about the illegalities, and Ravi was one of them.
Ku was indicted and arrested in December for receiving tens of millions of won from each of his clients after helping them get manipulated health records with false diagnoses of epilepsy. The Dong-a Ilbo reported the prosecution found Ravi’s health documents in Ku’s mobile phone.
Those in grades 1 to 3 are put on active duty for 18 months, those in grade 4 perform alternative social services at public institutions for 21 months, and those in grades 5 and 6 are exempted from the duty.
Ku, who promoted himself as the “god of the military service” on his website, has allegedly told his clients that he also “helped” a famous rapper and professional athletes avoid active duty.
In late December, pro-volleyball player Cho Jae-sung was confirmed to be one of his clients and he is also under investigation.
Ravi, 30, has been serving as a social service agent since last October. He left KBS’ entertainment show, Two Days and One Night, in May of that year, citing his enlistment, but he did not join the army and just continued giving concerts and released his fifth EP, Love & Holiday, in September.
02:28
K-pop fans weigh in as BTS member Jin begins military service
In October, his agency revealed that Ravi would start the alternative military service later that month. He also wrote on Instagram, “As you saw on media reports, I’ll fulfil my duty as a social service agent due to a health reason,” without further detailing what the health reason was.
The agency, GROOVL1N, established by Ravi, said it is trying to grasp the details of the allegation. “We’ll cooperate with the prosecution’s investigation,” it said in a release.
The prosecution is expanding the probe, suspecting more entertainers and athletes may have been involved.
