Singer Park Seo Jin is facing growing controversy over his military exemption, despite his explanation.

On December 3, a petition was posted online, calling for Park Seo Jin’s removal as an ambassador for organizations including Mungyeong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gongju City in Chungcheongnam-do, and the Korea Water and Sewage Association. The petition accuses him of causing a social controversy by making false statements about his military enlistment.

Park Seo Jin was appointed as an honorary ambassador for Mungyeong City in April of last year. The city had planned to renovate the “Cultural Street” in the old downtown with a budget of 1 billion won and create the “Dahlbyeot” street, named after his fanbase. He was also named an ambassador for Gongju City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Drinking Water Promotion Association.

The controversy began after it was revealed on November 28 that Park Seo Jin had received a military exemption. His agency, Tajo Entertainment, confirmed that he had been granted the exemption due to mental health issues related to family matters. They explained that Park Seo Jin had been diagnosed with depression and insomnia in his early twenties, which led to his exemption after undergoing a physical exam by the Military Manpower Administration.

However, this revelation sparked accusations of dishonesty. In previous interviews, Park Seo Jin had stated that he intended to enlist. In an October 2023 interview on MBC ON's Trot Champion, he said, “I have a goal to achieve before enlisting in the military. I think I should create a hit song that the entire country knows.” He also mentioned in July that he feared people might forget him if he went to the military before releasing a hit song.

This led to a petition on KBS’s viewer petition board titled “Please do not allow public figures who avoid their military duty to appear on public broadcasting.”

In response to the backlash, Park Seo Jin addressed the issue on his official fan café. He explained that he was afraid revealing his exemption due to mental health issues would negatively affect his career and public image. He said, "I was scared that it would impact my chances of performing or appearing at events. I didn’t realize this response would lead to such a big issue."

He further clarified, “In November 2014, when I was 20 years old, I was assessed as a grade 7 candidate for re-examination during my military service evaluation. After several re-examinations, I was classified as a grade 5 worker for wartime labor in 2018. I have been consistently taking medication and receiving psychological treatment for related conditions from about 10 years ago until now.”

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BTS's Jin continues to shine bright with his massive popularity, securing the No. 1 spot in the MY1PICK weekly rankings for an impressive 43 consecutive weeks!

In the MY1PICK K-POP Individual Category Weekly Ranking for the third week of December (December 16–22), Jin earned a massive 6,154,905 hearts, keeping his position at the top. From the 5th week of February to the 3rd week of December, Jin has been unbeatable in the weekly rankings, proving he has an enormous fanbase and global influence.

But Jin’s achievements don’t stop there. In November, he dominated the K-POP Individual Category Monthly Ranking, topping it with 25,452,283 hearts. He has held the No. 1 spot for 11 months straight, from January to November, showing his continuous popularity throughout the year.

Jin also claimed victory in the One Pick Chart’s “November Monthly Chart K-POP (Solo)” category, holding the No. 1 position for 8 months in a row, from April to November. On top of that, he won the 2024 Season Chart K-POP (SOLO) for both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making him the best One Pick star of the season.

The Season Chart awards honor artists who have consistently earned love from fans, with a physical trophy given to the top artist. Jin’s back-to-back victories solidify his place as one of the most beloved stars in K-pop.

Jin’s fan power doesn’t end with rankings. He’s also triumphed in numerous themed votes, taking first place in categories like “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of,” “Star You Want to See First Pitch at a Baseball Game,” “Best Cooking Genius Idol,” “Star Who Would Be the Best Child,” and “Star You Would Fall in Love With at First Sight.” His reward advertisement for the “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of” vote began airing on December 26 and can be seen at Yeoksam Station until December 30.

Meanwhile, Jin’s first solo album Happy was released on November 15 and quickly became a global hit, showcasing his talents as a solo artist. He held a special showcase, Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage, on November 16 and 17, where fans were captivated by his beautiful vocals and flawless live performance.

Jin has also been keeping busy with appearances on popular variety shows like Salon Drip 2, Neighborhood Star K4, and Limousine Service. He’s also appeared on famous American talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Japan’s top music program Venue 101, where he impressed fans with his humor and solid live performances. His reputation as the “Vocal King” and “Live King” is stronger than ever!

As if that wasn't enough, Jin is also gaining attention globally for singing the main theme song for the new tvN drama Ask the Stars. Jin's talents continue to wow the world, and it's clear he's not slowing down anytime soon!

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