In a unique legal case illustrating the lengths some individuals may go to avoid military service, a South Korean man has been found guilty of deliberately gaining weight to escape the draft. The 26-year-old defendant was charged after he began binge eating ahead of his physical examination, leading to his classification as obese. As a result, he was assigned to a non-combat position within a government agency instead of serving on the front lines.
The Seoul court ruled that the man, who weighed over 102kg (225 lbs) at the final examination, had intended to evade the mandatory 18-month military service required from all able-bodied South Korean men. Initially assessed as fit for combat duty, his drastic weight gain helped him sidestep the typical responsibilities expected of conscripts.
The court issued a one-year suspended sentence to the man, while his accomplice, who had aided him in the binge-eating regimen that nearly doubled his daily intake, received a six-month suspended sentence. The friend maintained his innocence regarding the claim of assisting in draft evasion, asserting that he never thought his friend would actually carry out the extreme plan.
This case reignites discussions around South Korea’s strict military conscription and the various methods individuals may consider to navigate these obligations, especially in the context of shifting societal attitudes toward military service.
