WINNER’s Song Minho, known to fans as MINO, has broken his silence with a public statement following his sentencing, apologizing to fans for the long wait before he spoke up.
According to the original discussion on r/kpop, Minho received a suspended sentence and will fulfill his remaining military service. The statement, rendered in the thread via a rough translation, begins with a direct apology: “Hello, this is Song Minho. I am deeply sorry for causing considerable distress to so many. I should have offered clarification as soon as possible, and I am sorry this has taken too long. I apologise for making you wait so long.”
One commenter noted that in his statement to the court, Minho had mentioned he would serve again if possible — a remark fans believe should work in his favor should he eventually seek a return as a celebrity.
Fans responding to the post were largely relieved the statement was not a departure announcement. “Grateful this isn’t a ‘I’m leaving WINNER’ statement. His members have really stood by him through this,” one wrote. Another added, “I would like him to still be a part of WINNER! But health is more important right now.”
Several commenters referenced Minho’s past mental health struggles, with one writing, “I just hope he comes out of this safely and I think with time if he wants he can come back. If not then I just hope he’s ok.”
No separate agency statement appeared in the source material. For now, his supporters seem content to wait — hoping above all that he comes through this period safely.
