A 26-year-old South Korean man has been convicted for intentionally gaining weight to avoid military service, The Korea Herald reported on Sunday, November 24.
The man, whose name was not disclosed, was sentenced to one year in prison, with the sentence suspended for two years, under the country’s Military Service Act.
He had deliberately increased his food intake and consumed large amounts of water before his physical exam for the military draft in an attempt to pass as medically unfit for combat duty.
According to reports, the man initially received a grade 2 assessment during his first physical exam in October 2017, which would have qualified him for a combat role.
However, by his final exam in June 2023, his weight had ballooned to 102.3 kg (225 lbs), and at 169 cm (5’6″), his body mass index (BMI) reached 35.8, classifying him as obese.
This resulted in a downgrade to a grade 4 classification, which meant he was deemed fit for non-combat service, such as working at a government agency while commuting from home.
The man reportedly followed a weight-gain regimen suggested by a friend, who was later convicted of aiding and abetting the effort.
His friend, a 25-year-old, was sentenced to six months in prison and also suspended for two years.
The friend denied the accusation, claiming he never expected the man to follow through with the plan.
The district court handed down relatively lenient sentences for both men, taking into account their lack of prior criminal records. The defendant expressed remorse for his actions and vowed to fulfill his military service in good faith.
Under South Korea’s Military Service Act, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for at least 18 months. Evasion of this duty without a legitimate reason can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years.