Mino

Song Min-ho, known professionally as Mino, built his reputation as the main rapper of YG Entertainment's boy group WINNER, bringing a compositional and lyrical sensibility that extended well beyond a performance role. His path to that position was circuitous — an early attempt to debut with Block B did not materialize, and a subsequent stint with the group B.O.M preceded his entry into YG's training system — making his eventual debut with WINNER a career established through repeated setbacks as much as through talent.

Debut & Formation

Before WINNER took shape, Mino's trainee years moved across more than one label and more than one aborted project. The failed Block B debut and the B.O.M interlude gave him an unusually long runway of preparation, and by the time YG Entertainment assembled WINNER, he arrived as a rapper with years of accumulated craft. WINNER debuted under YG, and Mino settled into the role of main rapper while also contributing as a lyricist, composer, and producer — credits that positioned him as one of the group's primary creative engines rather than simply a frontline performer.

Music & Activities

Within WINNER, Mino's output drew on a dense, self-authored style that reflected both his extended pre-debut writing practice and the compositional latitude YG allowed its artists. Alongside his group work, he pursued a solo career and developed a parallel public identity as a visual artist. His first solo exhibition, titled 'Thanking You', included a series of paintings — among them a work catalogued as 'My Giraffe Painting 1' — that drew enough interest to circulate on the secondary market, where one piece was listed at approximately 4.75 million won. The same seller had previously listed a work by artist Kian84, a detail that drew media attention in May 2026.

Legal Proceedings

In 2026, Mino became the subject of significant legal and public scrutiny related to his military service obligations. Prosecutors brought charges under the Military Service Act, alleging that he had been absent without leave for a total of 102 days during his public service duty — an extended period the prosecution argued amounted to a failure to perform actual service. Mino admitted to the absences and the charges in court, pleading for leniency. His legal team cited bipolar disorder as a mitigating factor, and earlier public remarks he had made about panic disorder — in an appearance before counsellor Oh Eun-young — were revisited in that context. The prosecution sought a sentence of one year and six months in prison. The case also drew attention to the reported involvement of a manager, details of which were included in the prosecutorial indictment. During the proceedings, Mino posted on social media following the sentencing request, and photographs connected to the case circulated in the Korean press.

The proceedings left WINNER operating without its full line-up. The remaining members continued individual schedules across music and entertainment programming, and fellow member Kang Seung-yoon addressed fans directly with a handwritten letter during the period, reflecting the group's awareness of the situation's weight.