South Korean Man Sentenced to Probation for Intentional Weight Loss to Avoid Military Service
A South Korean man in his 20s has been sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of deliberately losing weight to manipulate his military service classification. The Daegu District Court ruled that his actions, involving extreme fasting and exercise, constituted a violation of the Military Service Act.
The case highlights the lengths some individuals will go to avoid mandatory military service in South Korea, and raises questions about the ethical boundaries of exploiting health regulations.
According to the court’s announcement on January 1st, Mr. A learned in early 2021 that a body mass index (BMI) below 16 qualified individuals for classification as a level 4 physical worker, allowing them to serve in a non-combat role as a social worker. From July 2021 until shortly before his military service examination, Mr. A embarked on a drastic weight loss regimen. This included daily routines of 1,000 jump ropes and severely restricted food intake for at least three days prior to each assessment.
Initially weighing over 50kg and standing 175cm tall, Mr. A’s weight plummeted to 46.9kg (BMI 15.3) in his first examination in September 2021, and 47.8kg (BMI 15.5) in a subsequent examination in November of the same year. He was subsequently classified as a supplementary social worker.
During the trial, Mr. A attempted to defend his actions, claiming he was simply maintaining his physical strength through exercise and had not intentionally restricted his diet. However, the court found his claims unconvincing. Urine test results indicated the possibility of “starvation or long-term fasting,” and messages exchanged with acquaintances revealed a clear understanding that weight loss was a strategy to evade active duty.
“There are circumstances where he intentionally lost weight to avoid serving as an active-duty soldier and recommended the same method to those around him,” stated Chief Judge Ahn. Despite acknowledging this, the court opted for a suspended sentence, citing the fact that Mr. A’s methods did not cause significant physical harm and that he was initially underweight, with the total weight loss considered relatively modest.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s stance against attempts to circumvent military obligations through deceptive practices. While the court acknowledged mitigating factors, it firmly established that intentionally damaging one’s health to manipulate the system is unlawful. This case is likely to have a chilling effect on similar attempts to exploit loopholes in the South Korean military service system.
