HomeWorld NewsD. Young man sentenced to prison for gaining weight to avoid military...

D. Young man sentenced to prison for gaining weight to avoid military service in Korea


A South Korean court has given a suspended prison sentence to a young man accused of deliberately gaining weight to avoid mandatory military service. The Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced him to one year in prison on Tuesday (Nov 26). which will be suspended for two years. The British media reported the news.

The court ruled that the unnamed youth had violated the country's Military Service Act.

His accomplice who helped the scheme gain more than 20kg has been jailed for six months.

According to local media reports, the two men, aged 26, were friends. However, the court did not disclose their names.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months. This obligation is highly sensitive due to the ongoing tensions and state of war with North Korea.

People who are physically disabled usually do social service work instead of the military. However, they can be exempted from service if they have certain health problems or are found unfit as per physical examination.

The court said the youth's physical examination in 2017 weighed 83 kg, which is suitable for active military service for a height of 5 feet 6 inches.

But he deliberately doubles his daily food intake, eats high-calorie foods, skips parcel delivery jobs and drinks plenty of water before physical exams. In three tests between 2022 and 2023, his weight was 102-105 kg, making him unsuitable for social services.

The court also said that the accused had promised to perform his army duties properly and no party appealed against the verdict.

South Korea's Military Manpower Administration released a list of those accused of evading military service. It contains their name, age, address and reason for avoidance.

355 people illegally avoided compulsory military service in 2023. This was the highest number since the list was first published in 2015.



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