Who is Kim Won-Shik? K-Pop sensation left band VIXX over allegations of dodging military services
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: South Korean rapper Ravi bid farewell to the K-Pop boy band VIXX after facing charges related to evading mandatory military service. The 30-year-old artist, whose real name is Kim Won-Shik, was accused of faking epilepsy to avoid the country's military service.
Ravi's legal troubles unfolded when he was investigated for allegedly enlisting the help of a military broker to fake symptoms of epilepsy during a medical examination. Consequently, he was permitted to fulfil his service obligation through social service rather than traditional military duty.
Ravi apologized for his actions, stating, "I was assigned to social service due to a past illness and was postponing it for work activities. I then reached a point where it was difficult to postpone my military service any longer," he explained in Korean.
Originally formed as a sextet through the 2012 reality show 'MyDOL', VIXX underwent changes, with the departure of vocalist Hongbin in August 2020. The group, now consisting of members N, Leo, Ken, and Hyuk, witnessed Ravi's departure amid the legal controversy, marking a significant chapter in the band's history.
Kim Won-Shik was sentenced to two-year probation
The Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Ravi to two years of probation and 120 hours of community service for mandatory military service evasion in December lasy year.
The 'Rockstar' singer had to undergo a physical examination again for military service, adding a dramatic twist to his journey in the entertainment world.
Kim Won-Shik apologized for using ‘racy’ lyrics in 'Red Velvet'
VIXX's Ravi addressed concerns and issued a public apology in response to backlash surrounding his track titled 'Red Velvet (ft. Jamie)'. The song faced criticism from numerous fans of the K-Pop girl group who perceived its lyrics as inappropriate and harassing.
In a statement reported by 'Koreaboo', Ravi expressed regret for the controversy and acknowledged the concerns raised by listeners. He assured fans that he would take prompt action by removing the song from online music platforms.
The lyrics in question were criticized for being deemed 'lewd' and for sexualizing the members of Red Velvet.
Kim Won-Shik rumoured to be dating ‘Girls Generation’ star Kim Taeyon
In a rollercoaster of relationship rumors, Ravi's agency initially confirmed the dating status of the artist and ‘Girls Generation’ star Kim Taeyeon. However, later the agency denied any romantic involvement between the two, labeling their relationship as a "false positive".
The denial was accompanied by a statement emphasizing that Ravi and Taeyeon are simply seniors. People were urged to refrain from making speculative assumptions.
