After legal battle, MC Mong to return

Rapper-entertainerMC Mongwill reportedly return to the music industry early next month, according to local media yesterday, years after he began keeping a low profile because of his involvement in a legal battle over allegedly trying to evade mandatory military duty.

Ilgan Sports, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, wrote that the 35-year-old singer, whose real name is Shin Dong-hyun, has finished recording a few songs for his next album, set for release in early November.

Most of the songs on the upcoming compilation are reportedly collaborations with the singersBaek Ji-young, Heo Gak, Lee Sun-hee (pictured above, right) andGary. Negotiations are under way to add veteran female singer Lee Sun-hee to the crew as well, Ilgan Sports said.

Best known for his humorous disposition and jaunty music, the perky imageMC Mongportrayed in media diminished when he became suspected of evading mandatory military duty in 2010, an issue that is dealt with very sensitively in Korea. Although the Supreme Court found him not guilty in 2012, he has since kept out of the public eye.

By Lee Sung-eun