SHINee member Minho is facing further scrutiny over his role as a public relations ambassador for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee after a complaint was filed following controversy surrounding his first full marathon.
The complaint, submitted to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, calls for an investigation into whether Minho should continue serving as an ambassador, as well as a review of the race procedures and his placement in Group B at the 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon.
According to the committee on November 4, the complaint also seeks clarification on how the organisers handled the race rules and processed Minho’s finishing record.
The committee said it would appoint an officer to look into the matters raised.
Minho was appointed as an ambassador in September last year, with the role intended to promote everyday sports participation and communicate sports policy messages to the public.
The controversy began after the singer participated in the 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon on November 1, taking on the full 42.195km distance for the first time.
He crossed the finish line in three hours and 18 seconds, narrowly missing the coveted sub-three-hour mark by just 18 seconds.
However, footage circulating online after the event showed a person believed to be a pacemaker running alongside Minho and appearing to push him forward by placing a hand on his back and waist.
The video sparked questions over whether the physical assistance violated marathon regulations.
As criticism mounted, Minho addressed the controversy directly through social media on November 3, issuing an apology and expressing deep embarrassment over the incident.
A day later, he voluntarily returned his finishing record to the event organisers.
The organisers reportedly accepted his decision and agreed not to include his result in the official race records.
Despite his apology and the withdrawal of his finishing time, the controversy has now expanded beyond the marathon itself, with questions being raised about his suitability to continue representing the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee as an ambassador.
