A South Korean, who intentionally gained weight to escape his military obligations, was caught by his country's justice system. The 26-year-old man was sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence this month for violating the military service law, the Seoul Eastern District Court said Tuesday.
South Korea's constitution mandates that all men between the ages of 18 and 30 must complete about two years of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea.
Three years in prison incurred
And those who try to escape this obligation risk up to 3 years in prison. Only an artistic or sporting feat recognized on a global scale – which allowed the Korean player of Tottenham Heung-Min Son to do only three weeks of military service – or a valid medical reason are authorized by the South Korean authorities for an exemption or reduction of mandatory time.
83 kg in 2017… 102 in 2023
After learning that a body mass index (BMI) above 35 could exempt him from regular military duty, the offender deliberately ate excessively to gain weight and be classified as unfit for active duty. He then followed a special diet designed by one of his acquaintances. The plan involved doubling his food intake and drinking significant amounts of water before medical evaluations.
Thus, from 2017, when the man measured 169 centimeters and weighed 83 kg, he increased in 2022 to a weight of 105 kilos, “and in 2023, he weighed 102 kilos”, indicated the Seoul court.
The acquaintance who encouraged him was also found guilty of complicity in violation of the law and received a six-month suspended prison sentence. The court noted that “the accused admitted his wrongdoing and expressed his willingness to sincerely fulfill his military duty.” Which, in addition to the clean criminal records of the two accused, pushed the court to impose lenient sentences on them, according to the daily The Korea Herald.
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355 people identified for having escaped illegally
The Military Personnel Administration maintains a public list of escapees, displaying their names, ages, registered addresses, and reasons for escape. In 2023, 355 people illegally escaped compulsory military service, the highest number since this public list appeared in 2015. Celebrities have been caught faking illness to escape or be in military service totally exempt. One of them was accused of pulling out her teeth.
Last year, Ravi, rapper of the k-pop group VIXX, received a suspended sentence after falsifying medical documents stating that he suffered from epilepsy. He apologized on social media, saying he made a “stupid decision” then.
