South Korean Man Sentenced for Draft Evasion via Binge Eating

A South Korean court has sentenced a man to one year suspended for attempting to bypass military service by deliberately becoming obese. Alongside a friend who helped him devise a binge-eating plan, the case highlights ongoing debates surrounding the mandatory military draft in South Korea.

In a striking case that has captured media attention, a 26-year-old South Korean man was found guilty of evading his country's mandatory military service by purposely binge eating to gain weight. The ruling, issued by a court in Seoul, emphasized the defendant's strategy to be reclassified as obese, thereby qualifying for a less demanding non-combat government role instead of active military duty.

The man, who was initially cleared for combat during a preliminary examination, tipped the scales at over 102 kg (approximately 225 lbs) by the time of his final assessment last year. This drastic change led to a legal examination of his actions and intentions. He was subsequently assigned a one-year suspended sentence for his efforts to manipulate the draft process.

Further complicating the case, a friend who assisted the defendant in developing a caloric intake regimen that doubled his daily meals was also implicated, receiving a six-month suspended sentence despite denying any wrongdoing. The friend argued that he never believed his companion would resort to such extreme measures.

In South Korea, military service is a requirement for all able-bodied men over the age of 18, lasting at least 18 months. This case not only highlights an individual’s desperate attempt to escape this duty but also brings to light persistent discussions about the pressures and burdens of the country's draft system, particularly in a society where military service is both a rite of passage and a source of national pride.