Shocking prison sentence for man who gained weight to evade military service in South Korea

"DETERMINED TO HAVE INTENTIONALLY GAINED WEIGHT"

A court in South Korea has found a 26-year-old man guilty of intentionally gaining weight to evade military service. The judge handed a 1-year suspended prison sentence to the individual, who ate excessively before his military physical examination and was ultimately classified as obese.

"FRIEND WHO HELPED ALSO RECEIVED A PRISON SENTENCE"

His friend, who prepared a special diet for the defendant that doubled his daily food intake, received a 6-month suspended prison sentence.

"HEALTHY IN THE FIRST EXAMINATION, OBESE IN THE SECOND"

According to South Korean media, the defendant was assessed as fit for combat duty during his first physical examination, but by the final examination, he had exceeded 102 kilograms, was classified as obese, and was permitted to serve in a non-combat role at a government agency.

"THE ONLY WAY TO BE EXEMPT FROM MILITARY SERVICE IS TO BE AN ATHLETE OR MUSICIAN"

In South Korea, all able-bodied men over the age of 18 are required to serve in the military for at least 18 months. Officially, only Olympic medal-winning athletes and internationally renowned classical musicians are exempt from military service in the country.