Official legislative records from the South Korean government

South Korean Man Sentenced for Gaining 102 kg Weight to Evade Military Service

Nov 26, 2024, 02:00 AM

A 26-year-old South Korean man has been convicted and sentenced to a suspended prison term for deliberately gaining over 20 kilograms (44 pounds) to evade mandatory military service. The man, who reached a weight of 102 kilograms (224 pounds) at a height of 1.69 meters (5 feet 6.5 inches), intentionally became obese to avoid being assigned to strenuous combat roles. A court in Seoul sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the country's military service laws. Additionally, the man is required to complete his military service after losing the excess weight. A friend who assisted him in this scheme has also been sentenced to six months in prison. South Korea mandates military service for all able-bodied men, making draft evasion a serious offense.