Can we still call them 'Winners'? Singers Song Min-ho and Nam Tae-hyun, former members of the group Winner, have been tainted with the disgraceful labels of inadequate military service, drug use, and drunk driving.
On the 7th, a cautious statement from Winner's agency, YG Entertainment (hereafter YG), was released. It was about the news of Winner's concert. YG stated that they had been contemplating whether to proceed with the performance and decided to go ahead as planned, "for the fans who have been waiting a long time for Winner's stage, and to reflect the members' strong desire to meet their fans." The strong desire mentioned here likely excluded Song Min-ho.
While serving as a social service worker, Song Min-ho came under scrutiny for inadequate service. Negative reports about his failure to comply with commuting hours and inappropriate work attitude led him to distance himself from Winner.
His 'dream' or 'sweet' time spent quietly working as a social service worker has brought him down from 'Winner' to 'Loser.' Of course, we cannot definitively label him as a loser, as the final investigation results have not been released. However, according to the police, he generally acknowledged the part about leaving his work location during working hours during his attendance investigation. Is a social service worker different? For a soldier, leaving would immediately lead to confinement. It is undoubtedly an action that should not have happened, unworthy of a Winner.
The day after news about Song Min-ho broke, on the 8th, reports emerged about former Winner member Nam Tae-hyun's drunk driving. He was already serving a probation period due to drug use allegations and added another incident to his troubles.
According to the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul, Nam Tae-hyun was booked on charges of drunk driving on the 27th of last month. He is expected to undergo further police investigation and will likely face the press again.
Nam Tae-hyun debuted with Winner alongside Song Min-ho in 2014 but left the team after two years. He formed a band called South Club to establish his own musical identity, but his path has been veering in an undesirable direction.
In fact, Nam Tae-hyun attempted to make a comeback at a music festival held at a small theater in Hongdae on the 6th of this month but ended up pulling out.
Both Song Min-ho and Nam Tae-hyun are recognized figures in the music industry as rappers and vocalists. Their skills have already been validated through various broadcast stages, and fans are supportive and waiting for them. Was the facade of being Winners too burdensome for them? Or is it a regrettable outcome of a moment's poor judgment?
The group Winner, which debuted as a five-member group, will hold a concert in July as a three-member group. Upon closer inspection, a similar group comes to mind. The senior YG group Big Bang, which sang 'Loser.' Big Bang was also a five-member group, but two members left: 'Seungri' and 'T.O.P.' Both are representative figures in the entertainment industry who have also cast aside names as significant as 'Winner.'
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
