Court finds 26-year-old guilty of weight gain scheme to avoid combat duty
A South Korean court has convicted a 26-year-old man of deliberately gaining weight to evade mandatory military service, according to local media reports. The man intentionally binge-ate to exceed weight limits for combat service, opting instead for a non-combat government agency role.
The defendant, whose identity has not been disclosed, received a one-year suspended prison sentence. His accomplice, a friend who devised the overeating strategy, was handed a six-month suspended sentence. The Korea Herald detailed that the friend doubled the man’s daily food intake through a meticulously planned regimen.
From fit to obese: A deliberate transformation
The scheme began after the man was initially deemed fit for combat duty during a physical examination, court records revealed. However, by his final examination last year, his weight had surged to over 102 kilograms (225 pounds). This classified him as heavily obese, qualifying him for non-combat service under South Korea’s military standards.
Mandatory military service is required for all able-bodied South Korean men over the age of 18, typically lasting at least 18 months. The nation enforces strict regulations on fitness and weight to determine eligibility for combat or alternative roles.
Friend denies involvement despite evidence
The man’s accomplice denied charges of aiding and abetting, claiming he never believed the defendant would follow through with the extreme dieting plan. Despite this, the court ruled that the friend’s actions facilitated the draft evasion.
South Korea’s compulsory military service has faced growing scrutiny as cases of draft evasion spark public debate. This latest conviction underscores the lengths some individuals are willing to go to avoid fulfilling their duties, raising concerns about fairness and accountability within the system.