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| Ravi, member of K-pop boy group VIXX / Courtesy of GROOVL1N |
By Kim Rahn
Ravi of K-pop boy band VIXX is under the prosecution's investigation for seeking a military broker's help to manipulate his health records to be able to avoid active duty.
According to local media reports, Friday, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office examined phone conversations and messages the broker, surnamed Ku, exchanged with his "clients" to give them "consultations" about the illegalities, and Ravi was one of them.
Ku was indicted and arrested in December for receiving tens of millions of won from each of his clients after helping them get manipulated health records with false diagnoses of epilepsy. The Dong-a Ilbo reported the prosecution found Ravi's health documents in Ku's cell phone.
While all able-bodied men in Korea have to serve in the military, they are graded according to their physical and mental health conditions. Those in grades 1 to 3 are put on active duty for 18 months, those in grade 4 perform alternative social services at public institutions for 21 months, and those in grades 5 and 6 are exempted from the duty.
Ku, who promoted himself as the "god of the military service" on his website, has allegedly told his clients that he also "helped" a famous rapper and professional athletes avoid active duty. In late December, pro-volleyball player Cho Jae-sung was confirmed to be one of his clients and he is also under investigation.
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| Ravi sheds tears as he is set to leave the entertainment show, "Two Days and One Night," in this April 24, 2021 episode. Screenshot from KBS |
Ravi, 30, has been serving as a social service agent since last October. He left KBS' entertainment show, "Two Days and One Night," in May of that year, citing his enlistment, but he did not join the army and just continued giving concerts and released his fifth EP, "Love & Holiday," in September.
In October, his agency revealed that Ravi would start the alternative military service later that month. He also wrote on Instagram, "As you saw on media reports, I'll fulfill my duty as a social service agent due to a health reason," without further detailing what the health reason was.
The agency, GROOVL1N, established by Ravi, said it is trying to grasp the details of the allegation. "We'll cooperate with the prosecution's investigation," it said in a release.
The prosecution is expanding the probe, suspecting more entertainers and athletes may have been involved.
