South Korean Man Faces Consequences for Draft Evasion through Weight Gain

A 26-year-old South Korean man gained weight deliberately to evade mandatory military service, receiving a one-year suspended sentence after being categorized as obese. His friend who assisted him also received a suspended sentence, highlighting the ongoing national issue surrounding military service obligations.

A man in South Korea has gained notoriety after successfully dodging mandatory military service by intentionally overindulging in food, a tactic that ultimately led to legal repercussions. The 26-year-old was found guilty by a court in Seoul after he began binge eating ahead of his required draft physical examination. As a result of his drastic weight gain, which categorized him as obese, he managed to secure a position in a non-combat role at a government agency instead of serving on the front lines.

The court's verdict included a one-year suspended sentence for the defendant, as well as a six-month suspended sentence for his friend who had concocted a specialized eating regimen that effectively doubled the man’s daily caloric intake. Local reports, notably from the Korea Herald, detailed how during his first physical assessment, the man was deemed fit for combat. However, during a follow-up examination last year, he tipped the scales at over 102 kg (225 lbs), a considerable increase that qualified him for a less strenuous governmental position.

The friend accused of supporting the binge dieting denied any wrongdoing, arguing that he did not anticipate that his companion would actually follow through with the drastic weight gain strategy.

This incident throws light on the broader context of South Korea's mandatory military service, which requires all capable men over the age of 18 to serve a minimum of 18 months in the armed forces. The controversial nature of draft evasion methods highlights ongoing societal debates surrounding military service and personal freedoms in South Korea.