A 26-year-old South Korean man received a one-year suspended sentence after binge eating to qualify for a non-combat military role, sparking discussions about the country's mandatory military service laws.
South Korean Man Sentenced for Dodging Military Service by Gaining Weight
South Korean Man Sentenced for Dodging Military Service by Gaining Weight
A unique case in South Korea sees a man guilty of deliberately gaining weight to avoid military duties.
A South Korean court has ruled in a case involving a 26-year-old man who attempted to evade mandatory military service by intentionally overeating, with local reports detailing the unusual circumstances surrounding his actions. In a decision announced in Seoul, the man was deemed guilty after a judge revealed he had embarked on a binge-eating plan specifically to fail his physical examination for the draft.
Following a preliminary exam where he was assessed fit for combat, the defendant's strategy ultimately paid off, resulting in a final measurement of over 102 kilograms (225 lbs or 16 stone), categorizing him as obese. This classification allowed him to avoid combat duties, instead being assigned to a non-combat position within a government agency.
The man received a suspended sentence of one year, while his friend who had concocted the binge-eating regimen faced a lesser six-month suspended sentence for his role in the plan. He denied aiding and abetting and stated he never anticipated that his friend would carry out the scheme.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men over 18 are required to serve a minimum of 18 months in the military, except for those who receive exemptions for specific circumstances. This incident echoes similar concerns around the compulsory military service and the lengths some may go to avoid it, raising questions about the broader implications for society and cultural attitudes toward military obligations.
