Skipping military service: South Korean man jailed for gaining weight
Penalty for intentional weight gain? Although it sounds quite abstract, a South Korean court ruled that a 26-year-old who overdates to avoid mandatory military service should face severe consequences. The man was sentenced to one year and suspended for two years.
1:27 PM EST, November 25, 2024
A South Korean court sentenced the 26-year-old man to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for "intentionally gaining weight to avoid mandatory military service," as reported by the Channel News Asia portal.
According to reports cited by the portal, the young man had previously received a second category during an earlier military classification, which qualified him for frontline service. However, before the final classification, the 26-year-old's weight increased significantly—at a height below 5 feet 7 inches, he weighed over 220 pounds.
As a result, as a person with significant obesity, the man was awarded the fourth category. This meant his mandatory military service would occur under civilian conditions, working for a government agency and commuting from home.
The court found that the man gained weight intentionally
As reported by the Polish Press Agency, the investigation showed that the man deliberately gained weight by following a diet recommended by a friend to avoid traditional military service.
Under South Korean law, evading mandatory military service is punishable by up to three years in prison. The court sentenced both men (the friend for aiding and abetting) to suspended sentences.
Neither man had a prior criminal record, and the main defendant pleaded guilty and committed to sincerely completing his military service.
In South Korea, mandatory service lasts at least one and a half years and must be completed by all eligible men between 18 and 28. This requirement does not apply to women, but they can volunteer if they wish to serve in the military.
It is possible that soon, women will also have to undergo mandatory military service. The country is struggling with low birth rates, and the number of draftees is decreasing.
