Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin is facing scrutiny after her comments about BTS member V (real name Kim Taehyung) sparked a public outcry and an official response from South Korea’s military. The issue revolves around whether V violated military rules by contacting her during his training period.

The Initial Claims

During a live broadcast, Min Hee Jin mentioned that V had contacted her several times, describing him as “a bright and cheery kid” and elaborating on their interactions. She stated:

“On my birthday, he even sent me a text at dawn to say, ‘Happy Birthday.’ It made me think he’s truly a kind and genuine person. I’m very thankful.”

These comments led to questions about whether V had preferential treatment, as mobile phone use during training is highly regulated.

Public Complaint and Military Investigation

Following her remarks, a netizen filed a formal complaint alleging that V’s actions represented “preferential treatment” and violated military rules. The complaint sparked significant public interest, prompting an official review by South Korea’s 802nd Military Police Battalion.

In response, the military released a detailed statement addressing the allegations:

Summary of Petition:
The petitioner has raised suspicions that BTS member Kim Taehyung (stage name V) was allowed to use his mobile phone during training hours, a time when mobile phone usage is generally not permitted. Additionally, the petitioner suspects that he received special treatment due to his celebrity status and has requested an investigation to determine whether such privileges were granted.

Military’s Official Response

The military clarified the rules and findings regarding the allegations:

• Mobile Phone Usage Policy at the Training Center:
  It has been confirmed that recruits in training are allowed to use their mobile phones for one hour per day during designated rest periods, such as weekends and public holidays.
• Verification of Kim Taehyung’s Mobile Phone Usage:
  According to the training center’s guidelines, Kim Taehyung did not use his mobile phone during early morning hours but instead used it during the afternoon, which is the permitted time slot for mobile phone usage.
• Regarding Allegations of Special Treatment:
  It has been confirmed that there is no evidence or facts supporting claims that Kim Taehyung received special permission to use his mobile phone outside the designated time slots or was granted privileges due to his celebrity status.
• Disclosure of Communication Records:
  As for the specifics of Kim Taehyung’s call or text records, we cannot disclose this information due to the Personal Information Protection Act (Article 3) and the Telecommunications Privacy Act (Article 3).

Additional Clarifications

While the military confirmed that trainees are allowed limited phone use, it stated explicitly:

“There is no factual evidence that Kim Taehyung sent a text message to Min Hee Jin at dawn.”

Min Hee Jin’s claims have been interpreted by some as a misunderstanding, as she did not specify that the alleged text was related to V’s current enlistment period. The comments were made during an interview with music critic Kim Young Dae in October 2024.

Public Reaction

The incident has sparked mixed reactions online, with some questioning the appropriateness of Min Hee Jin’s comments and others defending V against what they perceive as an unfair controversy.

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Source: MLBPark Donga