'Ravi' of "VIXX" accused of hiring broker to dodge military duty.
'Ravi' of boy band "VIXX" was accused Thursday of being a client to a broker who was recently arrested for manipulating medical records to help young men evade their mandatory military service.
'Ravi' is currently serving as a social service agent instead of his active duty military service.
The large, draft-dodging broker organization has been under investigation since earlier this month for manipulating the health records of its young male clients. The brokers have since told prosecutors that their clientele included celebrities, athletes and sons from wealthy families and that the organization bribed a neurologist in Seoul to give clients fake diagnoses of epilepsy.
In Korea, all able-bodied men must serve in the military for 18 months or more, depending on the service branch.
The organization told prosecutors that a famous K-pop idol-turned-rapper was also one of its clients, according to news outlet. The client allegedly stepped down from a popular entertainment show last year and started serving as a social service agent in October.
The Korean government examines every male citizen’s physical and mental condition to determine whether they are fit for active duty. Draftees are classified into physical grades from 1 to 6: 1 to 3 serve in the military for 18 months as active duty personnel, while those ranked 4 substitute their service by working as social service agents at public institutions for 21 months unless they volunteer for active duty. Grades 5 and 6 are exempt from active duty.
According to the brokers, the alleged rapper client also received a grade 4 in his physical evaluation through their tactics of faking an epilepsy diagnosis.
Numerous Korean news outlets have tried and failed to reach his agency 'GROOVL1N' directly, but the agency later issued an official press statement.
“We are currently meticulously trying to figure out the situation," the agency, founded by 'Ravi' himself in 2019, wrote. "We are aware we should clarify our stance as quickly as possible, but because the issue is related to military duties, we think it is best to present a detailed explanation after fully figuring out the matter. We will be cooperative with the investigative authorities in the future if necessary."
Prosecutors say the
broker organization seems to have aided around 70 men in evading their military
service.