**Man Avoids Military Service in South Korea by Gaining Weight**

**A South Korean man received a suspended sentence for purposefully gaining weight to avoid military service, revealing the challenges faced by young men in fulfilling mandatory service requirements.**

A South Korean man has been sentenced for attempting to avoid mandatory military service by purposely gaining weight, according to local media reports. The 26-year-old, who modified his diet dramatically before the physical examination, was designated as obese by a judge in Seoul. This classification allowed him to fulfill his service in a non-combat role at a government agency instead of engaging in direct military duty.

The court handed down a one-year suspended sentence to the man. Furthermore, a friend who suggested a binge eating regimen, which increased the man's daily caloric intake, received a six-month suspended sentence as well. This unusual case highlights the strict military service regulations in South Korea, where all able-bodied men over the age of 18 are obligated to serve for a minimum of 18 months.

During an initial assessment, the defendant was deemed fit for combat, but in the final examination last year, he weighed more than 102 kg (225 lbs), categorizing him as heavily obese. His friend, who helped facilitate the extreme dietary change, denied accusations of aiding and abetting, claiming he did not think his friend would actually go through with the plan.

The case raises questions about the lengths to which individuals will go to avoid mandatory military obligations and sheds light on the additional pressures faced by young men in South Korea, especially in light of recent discussions surrounding the military service of K-pop stars like BTS.