Following the controversy about his military service exemption, Korean singer Seo In Guk is under the spotlight again.
This time, it was confirmed that the 30-year-old and fellow singer Park Bo Ram, who is 23, has been dating and are in a relationship for more than one year.
According to Korean entertainment site TV Report, the two have been dating for one and a half years.
They are both products of the Korean audition TV show 'Superstar K'. The news site said they saw Seo In Guk and Park Bo Ram dating.
They became close friends when her mother died last October after her father passed away in 2010 and she leaned on Seo In Guk for emotional support.
"I can really feel Seo In Guk's sincerity towards Park Bo Ram. Even though he's been going through some tough times these days, he tries not to show it in front of Park Bo Ram. He picks up the phone right away whenever she calls him. I hope people will support their relationship," a close associate of the two said.
BS Company, Seo In Guk's new agency, confirmed the report that the two are dating.
Seo In Guk courted controversy and hate this year when he enlisted for his military service last March 28 but was ordered to go home because of his ankle injury.
Medical examination revealed that he was suffering from an osteochondral lesion in his left ankle. In June, he received a Grade 5 health status, which exempted him from military service.
This triggered criticisms accusing him of using his injury in order not to fulfill his military service, a mandatory duty of all Korean men.
Jellyfish Entertainment, his agency then, denied the accusation last July, saying, "Although Seo delayed enlistment due to his injury twice before, he nevertheless joined the military on his own volition. He didn't have any knowledge that this injury could be a reason for exemption, nor did he neglect treatment on it to receive exemption."
In a letter to fans last October, he explained what happened and reiterated that he never intended to evade military service.
"As a singer and actor, I wanted to confidently enlist as an active-duty soldier, and do everything I could in my duty to defend the nation," he said.
