South Korean court hands down sentence for weight gain dodge
Penalty for intentional weight gain? Although it seems quite unusual, a South Korean court has ruled that a 26-year-old man who overdates to avoid mandatory military service should face serious consequences. The man was sentenced to one year 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 been classified as a second category during an earlier military assessment, which qualified him for frontline service. However, before the final assessment, the 26-year-old's weight increased significantly. He weighed over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) below 170 centimetres (5 feet 7 inches).
As a result, as a person with significant obesity, the man was classified into 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
According to the Polish Press Agency, the investigation revealed that the man deliberately gained weight by following a special 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 (including the friend for aiding and abetting) with 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 the ages of 18 and 28. This requirement does not apply to women, although they can volunteer for military service.
It is possible that soon, women will also have to undergo mandatory military service. The country is struggling with low birth rates, and the number of draftees is decreasing.
