Soldier Found Guilty of Gaining Weight to Avoid Military Service

A man in South Korea has been found guilty of trying to dodge the draft by gaining an exorbitant amount of weight, The Associated Press and The Korea Herald reported. South Korea requires all “able bodied” men to serve in the country’s military for a minimum of 18 months.

The unidentified man was sentenced on Nov. 26 in Seoul, South Korea, for “violating the Military Service Act.” The scofflaw was accused of gaining 44 pounds so that he would be made exempt from more difficult military duties. The defendant did so by doubling his daily caloric intake and drinking massive amounts of water before each physical exam. He had the help of a close friend who crafted nutrition and meal plans designed for his friend to gain weight.

Because of his weight, the defendant was only eligible for non-combat military duties which would see him employed with a government agency and largely working remotely from home.

The defendant was sentenced to one year in prison, while his accomplice was sentenced to six months deferred for two years. That means if he commits another crime within those two years, he’ll be remanded to prison to serve his full six-month sentence. Anyone in South Korea who attempts to "evade their mandatory military service without justifiable cause can be punished by up to three years in prison.”

However, the unidentified defendant has since “expressed his intention to fulfill his military duty sincerely.”