BIGBANG member T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun) will be discharged on July 8th after completing his alternative military service as a public service worker.

The Yongsan-gu District Office in Seoul, where T.O.P is currently serving, officially announced on May 21st, "Choi Seung-hyun's discharge date is July 8th."

The Yongsan-gu District Office also revealed, "Due to the shortened service period regulations that have been applied to public service workers since last year, his service period has been reduced by about 27 days."

Choi Seung-hyun was originally scheduled to be discharged in early August, but his service period will be shortened by '27 days' due to the service period reduction regulations implemented in 2018.

The government announced Defense Reform 2.0 on July 27, 2018, and decided to shorten the military service period.

In the case of public service workers, it has been gradually applied to those who enlisted from October 3, 2016, and T.O.P is expected to benefit from a 27-day reduction.

For public service workers who enlist on or after March 16, 2020, the service period will be reduced from the current 24 months to 21 months, a decrease of 3 months.

Initially, T.O.P began his military service as a riot police officer in February 2017, but he was dismissed from his position and indicted on charges of past marijuana use that surfaced during his service.

In relation to this suspicion, in the first trial ruling in July 2017, T.O.P was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of 12,000 won.

Subsequently, T.O.P, who was transferred to supplementary service (public service worker), has been performing alternative service at the Yongsan Crafts Center under the Yongsan-gu District Office since January 26, 2018.

While serving as a public service worker, T.O.P has also experienced an uneven time, including being embroiled in controversy over 'special treatment' allegations.

The Yongsan-gu District Office, which is responsible for the relatively large number of days off, stated through the submission of official documents that "there is absolutely no special treatment."

T.O.P's reason for taking days off was due to panic disorder.

(Photo=Newsen DB)

Newsen Reporter Heo Min-nyeong mignon@

These are English translations of articles from our GTTOUR Japanese website.