In South Korea, military service is mandatory for all able-bodied men, and failure to comply can lead to significant legal consequences. A recent case highlighted in the Korea Herald involved a 26-year-old man who deliberately gained weight to avoid conscription. The individual, who has remained anonymous, adopted an extreme approach to manipulating his body weight before undergoing a physical examination required for military duty. His strategy included doubling his daily food intake and drinking excessive amounts of water immediately prior to the examination, ultimately leading to a classification as obese. This act of deception resulted in a one-year suspended sentence handed down by a district court, illustrating the serious legal repercussions stemming from attempts to evade military obligations.
The man’s journey began in October 2017 during his initial physical examination when he received a Grade 2 assessment, indicating he was fit for service and could be assigned to combat roles. At that time, he managed to postpone his military duty by claiming that he needed to focus on passing university entrance exams. However, as the years progressed and the deadline for his military service approached, he devised a plan to manipulate his physical condition. After five years, during which his obligations loomed, he resorted to a binge-eating regimen over three months to ensure that he would not qualify for conscription, a decision that speaks to the lengths some individuals will go to avoid the military.
By the time of his final examination in 2022, the man had gained considerable weight, reaching over 102 kg and subsequently being classified as obese. This classification allowed him to evade combat service entirely and instead serve in a non-combat role within a government agency. His significant weight gain not only altered his military eligibility but also raised questions about the integrity of the medical evaluation process designed to determine fitness for service. The case emphasizes the challenges within the conscription system, where some resort to extreme measures to bypass what they perceive as an obligation they wish to avoid.
Accompanying him in this scheme was a friend who devised the dietary regimen that contributed to the man’s drastic weight gain. This accomplice also faced legal consequences, receiving a six-month suspended prison sentence for his role in the deceitful plan. His defense was rooted in a claim of ignorance about the exact nature of his friend’s intentions, arguing that he did not expect his friend to take such drastic measures. This aspect of the incident brings to light the ethical considerations involved in aiding someone to manipulate a system, and it raises further concerns regarding accountability among friends and peers.
Similar cases have arisen in South Korea, illustrating a concerning trend among young men seeking to evade consistent military duty through deliberate body manipulation. For instance, in 2018, a group of 12 music students collaborated to avoid conscription by intentionally gaining weight using protein supplements and aloe vera juice. They successfully reached the requisite obesity classification, thus sidestepping mandatory service and were instead assigned to government positions. This collaborative approach among the students reflects a growing sentiment against compulsory military service, showcasing a deeper cultural context of opposition that may inspire or normalize such strategies among individuals burdened by military obligations.
Overall, these incidents, including the recent case, underscore a significant societal challenge regarding South Korea’s compulsory military service. The choices made by individuals like the 26-year-old man suggest a conflict between personal autonomy and societal expectations. The lengths to which some individuals go to avoid military service provoke discussions on the morality of evading duties rendered obligatory by the state, the pressures faced by young men, and the potential need for reform in military conscription practices to align better with contemporary societal views and personal freedoms.