South Korean man caught binge eating to get out of military service ends up in prison

A South Korean man was sentenced to a year in prison for deliberately bingeing to avoid mandatory military service. Ahead of his military physical exam, the 26-year-old, whose name has not been released, deliberately gained significant weight, reaching more than 102 kg (225 lbs), only to be categorized as unfit for combat roles and assigned to a non-combat role. government position, Korean herald reported.

The man reportedly consumed large amounts of food, including instant noodles, pizza and fried chicken, to gain weight quickly. He is said to have gained 24kg in just three months, taking his body mass index (BMI) to 37.8, which is considered obese. The man planned to use his weight gain as a reason to be exempt from military service, which is mandatory for healthy Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35.

However, his plan was discovered and he was subsequently charged with attempting to avoid military service. Although the maximum penalty for draft evasion is three years, his sentence was reduced due to his lack of prior offenses and promise to serve faithfully. He was given a one-year suspended sentence, while his friend, who helped him double his daily food intake, was jailed for six months.

The man’s friend testified in court that he jokingly suggested the weight gain plan, without expecting his friend to take it seriously and actually follow through with it.

All able-bodied men in South Korea over the age of 18 must serve in the military for at least 18 months, according to the BBC. The policy is rooted in the country’s ongoing tensions with North Korea. This universal conscription ensures a constant supply of personnel for the armed forces, who are vital to national defense. Although exemptions exist for individuals with health conditions or outstanding performance in fields such as sports or the arts, intentional avoidance of services is severely punished.

In a similar incident in 2018, a group of South Korean graduates deliberately gained significant weight through overeating to avoid mandatory military service, essentially attempting to classify themselves as too obese to serve in combat roles.