A South Korean man’s unusual plan to dodge mandatory military service by intentionally gaining weight has landed him in legal trouble. The 26-year-old, whose identity remains undisclosed, was sentenced to a one-year prison term, suspended for two years, after the court found him guilty of violating the country’s strict military service laws.
Mandatory military service in South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve for 18 to 21 months. While some individuals with health issues may serve in social service roles instead, this man reportedly exploited the system by deliberately gaining over 20 kilograms.
Standing at 5 feet 6 inches, he weighed 83 kilograms in 2017 during his initial physical exam, qualifying for active-duty service. Determined to avoid this, he began a binge-eating regime, doubling his calorie intake and quitting his physically demanding delivery job. By consuming high-fat foods and drinking water before exams to inflate his weight, he tipped the scales at over 102 kilograms by the time of his physicals in 2022 and 2023.
His efforts worked initially, as he was reassigned to a less demanding social service role. However, authorities discovered his scheme, leading to legal action. His accomplice, a friend who suggested the idea, also received a suspended prison sentence.
South Korea enforces mandatory conscription due to ongoing tensions with North Korea. While most citizens fulfill their obligations, cases of draft evasion, including gaining or losing weight, are not uncommon. The Military Manpower Administration reports around 50-60 such cases annually.
In court, the man claimed remorse and pledged to complete his military duties, but the judge emphasized that his actions undermined the system’s fairness. The sentence serves as a warning against exploiting loopholes in conscription laws.
