South Korean man sentenced for weight gain to dodge service
Penalty for intentional weight gain? Although it may sound abstract, a South Korean court has ruled that a 26-year-old man who deliberately gained weight to avoid mandatory military service should face severe consequences. He was sentenced to one year in prison and suspended for two years.
A South Korean court sentenced the 26-year-old man to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for "intentionally gaining weight to avoid mandatory military service," as reported by the Channel News Asia portal.
According to reports cited by the portal, the young man had previously received a second category during an earlier military classification, which qualified him for frontline service. However, before the final classification, the man's weight increased significantly. At a height below 170 cm, he weighed over 100 kg.
As a result, as a person with significant obesity, he was awarded the fourth category. This meant his mandatory military service would occur under civilian conditions, working for a government agency and commuting from home.
The court found that the man gained weight intentionally
As reported by the Polish Press Agency, the investigation showed that the man deliberately gained weight by following a diet recommended by a friend to avoid traditional military service.
Under South Korean law, evading mandatory military service is punishable by up to three years in prison. The court sentenced both men (the friend for aiding and abetting) to suspended sentences.
Neither man had a prior criminal record, and the main defendant pleaded guilty and committed to sincerely completing his military service.
In South Korea, mandatory service lasts at least one and a half years and must be completed by all eligible men between 18 and 28. This requirement does not apply to women, but they can volunteer to serve in the military.
It is possible that women will also have to undergo mandatory military service in the near future. The country is struggling with low birth rates, and the number of conscripts is decreasing.
