After former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin mentioned BTS’s V during an interview, V became embroiled in a controversy regarding alleged military privileges, leading to a formal complaint filed with South Korea’s Ministry of Defense. The results of this complaint were later shared on an online community, revealing discrepancies between Min Hee Jin’s statements and the Ministry’s findings.
On November 20, a post titled “Response to Complaint About Min Hee Jin and BTS V’s Text Messages” was uploaded to an online forum. The controversy stemmed from Min Hee Jin’s appearance on the show ‘Kim Young Dae’s School of Music’ on October 29, during which she shared that she had received messages from V while he was serving in the military.
Min Hee Jin had stated, “V occasionally calls me from the military. I even joke, ‘Are you really in the military?’ because he calls so often. He’s naturally cheerful and lively. While I was going through a tough time, he called me and said, ‘Noona, are you okay?’ On my birthday, he even sent me a text from the military in the middle of the night. He’s so kind and thoughtful that I was deeply moved.”
However, her remarks sparked backlash, as Min Hee Jin’s birthday was December 16, and V enlisted on December 11. According to Min Hee Jin’s timeline, V would have sent the message just five days after enlisting, while still a trainee in basic training. This led to speculation that V may have received special privileges, such as being allowed to use a phone outside regulated hours.
A concerned individual filed a complaint with the Ministry of Defense, arguing, “This is a serious violation of military regulations. I suspect military officials turned a blind eye to V using a phone because he is a famous K-pop idol.”
The complainant also challenged Min Hee Jin’s statement, saying, “She claimed V sent her a text while in the military. But getting vacation leave in less than a week after enlistment is impossible. Trainees are allowed to use phones for one hour only on weekends, and scheduled messages cannot be sent from the training center.”
The Ministry of Defense later dismissed the claims of special privileges. According to the response shared by the complainant on November 20, the 802nd Military Police Brigade’s complaint department clarified, “At the Army Training Center where Kim Tae Hyung (V’s real name) was stationed, trainees are allowed to use their phones for one hour on weekends and public holidays. Kim Tae Hyung used his phone during the designated afternoon hours, not at dawn, in accordance with the training center’s guidelines.”
The Ministry also emphasized, “There is no evidence that Kim Tae Hyung was given special permission or that any exceptions were made for him. Additionally, specific details about the timing, method, and content of the conversation cannot be disclosed under Article 3 of the Personal Information Protection Act and Article 3 of the Communications Privacy Act.”
The Ministry’s clarification has raised questions about the accuracy of Min Hee Jin’s statement, particularly her claim that V contacted her at dawn. Some netizens speculate that her account may have been exaggerated or inaccurate, adding to the controversy.
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