A South Korean Army Training Center superior is under scrutiny after asking a newly enlisted trainee—Woozi of SEVENTEEN—to help arrange a singer for his wedding, a request critics say exploited the military’s strict power hierarchy.
According to reports confirmed Monday, the noncommissioned officer, identified as Master Sergeant A, approached Woozi shortly after he entered basic training in September and asked him to introduce a singer for his wedding the following month. Woozi reportedly had no prior personal relationship with the superior.
Woozi contacted a well-known ballad singer he knows personally, who went on to perform at the October wedding without receiving a fee.
The Army said Woozi has since been selected as a drill assistant and is now serving in the same training regiment as Master Sergeant A, noting that Woozi’s assignment had not yet been determined at the time of the request.
While the Army Training Center stated the situation involved no coercion and described it as a voluntary favor, observers argue that refusing such a request is difficult in a closed, top-down military environment. Attorney Noh Jong Eon pointed to past court rulings recognizing how power dynamics can pressure subordinates into compliance, raising questions about possible violations of conduct and duty obligations.
Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN, marking its 10th debut anniversary this year, is considered a defining act of K-pop’s third generation alongside groups like BTS and BLACKPINK. Woozi enlisted in September alongside fellow member Hoshi.
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