A singer from South Korea has denied having dramatic emergency dentistry in a bid to avoid being called up for national service.
Shin Dong-hyun – also known as MC Mong – is a well-known hip-hop artist in the Far East and originally passed a medical for the army in 1998.
However, he postponed his call-up, saying he intended to join the civil service.
When this did not happen, MC Mong was given his papers again and asked back for another medical examination.
This time, four of his front teeth were missing, meaning he failed his check-up for being unable to masticate properly.
The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office has indicted the singer, claiming that he had the dentistry between 2004 and 2006 simply to avoid doing national service.
However, MC Mong insists this is not true, commenting: "I did not try to receive exemption from service and the previous teeth were really damaged."
National service is compulsory in South Korea for all men over 19 and must be performed for 21 months.
MC Mong's last album, entitled Humananimal, was released in July 2009.
