Actor Byun Yeo-han draws backlash for hearting Song Min-ho's apology over military service violations

Actor Byun Yeo-han has sparked controversy after liking and leaving three heart emojis in the comments on a public apology posted by Winner member Song Min-ho, who received a suspended prison sentence in his first trial on charges of violating the Military Service Act. Reactions have been divided between those who see it as a show of support for a longtime friend and those who say the gesture was inappropriate given the circumstances.

Song posted a handwritten apology on his SNS on Friday, eight days after Seoul Western District Court sentenced him Oct. 1 to one year in prison, suspended for two years. It was his first post in roughly three and a half years.

In the apology, Song said he was "ashamed and disgusted" by his past choices and promised to "faithfully fulfill the remaining procedures and obligations."

Byun liked the post and left three heart emojis in the comments, without adding any other words or explanation. The two have publicly displayed their friendship on television and SNS for about a decade.

While Byun's gesture was seen by some as a welcome show of solidarity, others criticized it as flippant given that Song had been convicted of violating his mandatory military service obligations.

Song served as a social service worker in Mapo-gu, Seoul, from March 2023 to December 2024. Prosecutors referred him to trial after determining he had been absent without authorization on 102 of the roughly 430 days he was required to report for duty. The court noted that military service is an obligation to defend the country and that social service workers are no exception.

A supervisor identified only as A, who was tried alongside Song for failing to manage his attendance, received a sentence of 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. A filed an appeal Tuesday, refusing to accept the ruling. The Military Manpower Administration said that once the verdict is finalized, Song will be required to make up the days he missed.

This is not the first time a "like" on a controversial celebrity's apology has drawn public attention. Last August, when actor Ha Young posted an apology for great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho's pro-Japanese colonial-era activities, directors Lee Do-yoon of the Netflix series "Trauma Center" and Hong Jong-chan of "True Education" found themselves embroiled in controversy after liking the post.