South Korean Man Sentenced for Gaining Weight to Evade Military Service

A South Korean man has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for deliberately gaining over 20 kilograms (44 pounds) to avoid a more demanding role in the country's mandatory military service.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for 18-21 months. However, individuals with health issues can fulfill their duties at non-military facilities like welfare centers or community service centers. In severe cases, they may be exempted entirely.

The Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced the man to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the country's military service act. An acquaintance who aided him received a similar suspended sentence.

According to court records, the man was deemed fit for active duty in 2017, standing at 169 centimeters (5 feet 6 inches) and weighing 83 kilograms (183 pounds). However, following advice from his acquaintance that he could qualify for social service if overweight, he doubled his daily food intake, focused on high-calorie foods, and quit his part-time delivery job.

During physical exams from 2022-2023, the man weighed between 102-105 kilograms (225-231 pounds), making him eligible for social service. He also reportedly drank large amounts of water before these exams.

It remains unclear how the man's scheme was discovered and whether he began his military service before his trial. The court only confirmed his promise to fulfill his duty faithfully.

South Korea's mandatory military service, implemented due to the ongoing threat from North Korea, is a sensitive domestic issue. The draft forces young men to put their studies and careers on hold, leading to attempts to evade service through various means, including excessive weight gain or loss and neglecting medical treatment for health conditions.