[Exclusive] Wrist Self-Harm and Drug Use... Bizarre Military Service Evasion by Children of Sports Circles and High-Ranking Officials

Eight out of Ten Evaders of Military Service Are Athletes
Including Children of High-Ranking Officials
Deliberate Wrist Surgery and Faking Hyperhidrosis
Fair Military Service Review Committee's Measures Delayed

[Asia Economy Reporters Jang Sehee and Hwang Seoyul] It has been confirmed that the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) has identified 19 individuals subject to separate military record management over the past five years, including athletes and children of high-ranking public officials. These individuals avoided active duty enlistment by deliberately injuring their wrist ligaments or intentionally taking medications with side effects.

According to the MMA's "Military Service Evasion Detection Performance Status," obtained by Asia Economy from the office of Kim Seung-soo, a member of the People Power Party, the MMA detected a total of 19 people from 2018 to the end of last year: 16 athletes, 2 children of high-ranking public officials, and 1 popular culture artist. Under Article 77-4 of the Military Service Act, the MMA selects and manages separate military record targets such as athletes, children of high-ranking officials of grade 4 or higher, popular culture artists, and children of high-income earners (annual comprehensive income of 1 billion KRW or more). The most common method was intentional wrist surgery with 7 cases, followed by 5 cases of mental illness, 2 cases of intentional weight control, 2 cases of feigned hearing impairment, and 3 others. Representative Kim said, "Military service corruption continues to occur every year," urging the strengthening of punishments for military service evasion attempts and the prompt establishment of related systems.

◆ Wrist Self-Injury and Psychiatric Symptoms = Athlete A deliberately injured his ligaments by excessively bending or twisting his wrist in 2020 and then underwent wrist surgery. He subsequently received a grade 4 orthopedic disease diagnosis and avoided military service. Athlete B, who increased his food intake to receive a grade 4 height and weight diagnosis, was sentenced guilty by the court.

Child C of a high-ranking public official attached a wet band to his finger to feign hyperhidrosis and received a grade 4 dermatological disease diagnosis. After initially receiving a military service disposition as a grade 4 social service agent, C submitted a request for change of military service disposition citing depression. Child D of a high-ranking public official was found to have taken medication that causes urological diseases to feign having a urological condition.

◆ Series of Suspended Prosecutions and Non-Prosecutions = Most of the military service evaders recently brought to trial were confirmed to have received suspended prosecutions or non-prosecution decisions. Among four athletes who falsely claimed psychiatric symptoms and received a grade 4 psychiatric diagnosis in 2021, three received suspended prosecutions and one was not prosecuted. Last year, athletes and popular culture artists were detected and are currently under prosecution investigation.

According to rulings on cases of Military Service Act violations, punishment is possible only when active deception and intent are proven. Criminal law specialist attorney Cheon Joo-hyun said, "It is not easy to determine whether the person was originally ill or deliberately caused the injury," adding, "If medical professionals are involved in issuing certificates or if the review process is handled insincerely, detection may fail."

◆ Slow Legal Amendments... Inadequate Follow-up Measures = Although the Fair Military Service Deliberation Committee was launched in 2018, it appears that institutional improvements have not been properly made. According to the "Fair Military Service Deliberation Committee Meeting Minutes" obtained by Asia Economy, after discussions with multiple committee members in December 2020, the committee decided to include Go, billiards, and bowling in the management targets, but the related law was proposed two years later in November last year and is currently under revision.

An MMA official explained, "The review of additional necessary sports such as bowling, boxing, and Go is ongoing as part of the bill process, so the actual additional sports have not yet been finalized." It was pointed out that amateur activities affiliated with schools or corporate teams are included in the separate military record management for non-designated professional players under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, but management is discontinued when they turn professional, yet no measures have been taken.

Management of high-ranking public officials was also left as a long-term review task. The committee discussed expanding the management period of children to after retirement and managing nephews of current officials but did not implement additional measures citing "infringement of basic rights." While institutional improvements are delayed, the number of separately managed individuals is actually decreasing. From 33,501 in 2018 to 27,756 last year, there was a 17% decrease over four years. The MMA stated, "This is due to the amendment of the Income Tax Act, which reduced the number of children of high-income earners subject to management to about two-thirds compared to before."