137 Celebrities and Others Massively Indicted for Military Service Evasion and Military Service Corruption

Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and Military Manpower Administration Joint Investigation for 3 Months
137 People Prosecuted, 1.6 Billion KRW in Criminal Proceeds Seized and Preserved

The prosecution and the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) have jointly investigated for three months and brought a total of 137 individuals, including brokers and evaders involved in 'false epilepsy' military service evasion, accomplices, celebrities, and public officials engaged in organized military service corruption, to trial.

The joint investigation team of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and the MMA announced on the 13th that through a comprehensive investigation into cases of disguised epilepsy military service evasion, they identified and prosecuted a total of 137 people and completed the full seizure and preservation of criminal proceeds amounting to 1,601,470,000 KRW obtained by military service brokers. The investigation was conducted over three months starting from December 5 of last year.

The prosecution arrested and indicted four individuals, including brokers Mr. Gu (46) and Mr. Kim (37), and two evaders who actively denied the charges, on charges including violation of the Military Service Act. They also indicted 106 evaders and 20 accomplices, such as lawyers and Korean medicine doctors who actively participated in the crimes, without detention, totaling 130 indictments. This number includes rapper and entertainment agency Groovelin's CEO Ravi (30, real name Kim Wonsik), 49 evaders indicted that day, and nine accomplices including a former large law firm lawyer. Mr. Gu and Mr. Kim were additionally indicted on the same day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the investigation of military service evasion cases, the joint investigation team also detected clues of organized military service corruption related to the management of social service agents' duty by local governments and launched an investigation. Through the investigation, on this day, rapper Nafla (31, real name Choi Seokbae), Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration duty supervisor Mr. A (58), Seocho District Office public official Mr. B (58), and three others were arrested and indicted on charges including violation of the Military Service Act. Entertainment agency co-CEO Mr. C (37) was indicted without detention on similar charges, and three lower-ranking public officials were indicted without detention on charges including falsification and use of false official documents. Mr. Gu was additionally indicted for involvement in this case.

'False Epilepsy' Military Service Evasion... Roles Divided According to Broker's Scenario

According to the joint investigation team's findings, 108 military service obligors evaded service by disguising epilepsy at every stage before the physical examination, from the initial 'military service physical examination' to the 'change of military service disposition' procedure, based on a 'false epilepsy scenario' prepared by brokers. Although most initially received active duty (grades 1 to 3) classification, they attempted evasion by obtaining a wartime labor service (grade 5, military service exemption) classification through the change of military service disposition procedure. Some committed the crime even after already receiving social service agent (grade 4) classification to completely avoid military service.

Overview of Military Service Evasion Crime / Photo by Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and Military Manpower Administration Joint Investigation Team

Brokers provided scenarios to deceive medical institutions and the MMA tailored to the type of military service obligor, and divided roles such as patient and guardian with the obligors before and after the military service examination to prepare and execute the crime. For example, after contracting with a client, they selected themselves or the evader's family or acquaintances as witnesses and falsely claimed symptoms to medical institutions as patients and witnesses, pretending that a seizure suddenly occurred during long hours of electronic device use such as mobile phone games, and testified as if similar symptoms had existed for a long time. If the evader requested a quick resolution of military issues due to age or limits on postponement of enlistment, they shortened the crime period by making a false 119 emergency call and going directly to a large hospital emergency room by ambulance.

When no abnormal epilepsy findings were detected in EEG tests, brokers knew that at least one year of treatment history was required as of the physical examination date to receive a classification of grade 4 (supplementary service) or lower, and managed the crime over a long period. Brokers counseled evaders for 1 to 2 years, managed medical records from primary to tertiary large hospitals, and ensured that evaders took medication just before the final drug test to produce a positive drug reaction.

Unlike previous military service evasion investigations that only applied violations of the Military Service Act, the joint investigation team additionally applied charges such as obstruction of official duties by deception and falsification and use of electronic records. In particular, the crime of falsification is considered a 'serious crime' subject to criminal proceeds recovery under the amended Act on the Recovery of Criminal Proceeds, allowing effective recovery of criminal proceeds even for offenses committed before the amendment. As a result, the court approved the full amount claimed, completing seizure and preservation measures for all criminal proceeds totaling 1,383,870,000 KRW received by Mr. Gu and 217,600,000 KRW received by Mr. Kim, totaling 1,601,470,000 KRW.

Organized Military Service Corruption... Public Officials Involved in Attendance Sheet Manipulation

During the investigation of military service evasion cases, the joint investigation team detected clues that public officials responsible for managing social service agents' duty were systematically manipulating attendance sheets of specific agents and attempting to discharge them from service due to unsuitability based on these manipulated records. They identified discrepancies between the military records (normal attendance) of the social service agents under investigation and the actual attendance situation (absence) confirmed through forensic analysis. On January 30, they conducted raids on Seocho District Office, Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration, and other government offices, securing manipulated attendance sheets, unsuitability discharge documents, and application materials.

Overview of Military Service Corruption Offenses / Photo by Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and Military Manpower Administration Joint Investigation Team

Rapper Nafla, facing an unavoidable situation where postponement of social service military duty was no longer possible and he had to serve, planned military service evasion crimes with agency CEO Mr. C and broker Mr. Gu through unsuitability for duty or military service disposition change applications. Over about two years, he deceived hospital doctors by pretending his depression worsened, obtained prescriptions but did not take medication at all, and received false medical certificates for military service to attempt discharge and multiple re-examinations.

Public officials Mr. A and Mr. B, responsible for Seocho District Office and Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration, fabricated attendance records showing Nafla attended work for 141 days. They falsified attendance sheets to make it appear that frequent tardiness, early leave, and sick leave rendered him unsuitable for duty. Through this, they attempted to induce an unsuitability for duty classification by making it seem as though he tried to serve normally for a period but was unable to due to mental illness.

The prosecution stated, "This investigation is a case where, based on direct prosecution investigation and investigative command, the MMA special judicial police cooperated to uncover large-scale military service evasion and organized military service corruption in a short period." They added, "The prosecution and the MMA will continue to closely cooperate and proceed with related investigations."

MMA "Preparing Comprehensive Measures to Prevent Military Service Evasion"

Based on the results of this joint investigation, the MMA has identified improvement tasks in four major areas: specification of physical grade determination criteria, tracking and prevention of military service evasion, crackdown and punishment of military service evasion crimes, and counseling and education, and has prepared a 'Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Military Service Evasion.'

First, they plan to block attempts at military service evasion through precise military service physical examinations. They will specify the physical grade determination criteria for epilepsy and strengthen verification of treatment status. Through expert consultation with organizations such as the Korean Epilepsy Society, they plan to specify physical grade determination criteria to consider the onset time and frequency of seizures, the possibility of seizure control through medication, and active treatment history. Medication intake will be confirmed not only by urine tests but also by blood tests. Diseases with abnormal increases in evasion attempts or grades 4 to 6 classifications will be additionally selected as 'priority management diseases,' and those requiring detailed examination will have their physical grades finally determined at the Central Military Manpower Physical Examination Center. Epilepsy was designated as a new priority management disease in February.

They also plan to enhance tracking management of suspected evaders and build an integrated early warning system for military service evasion. In the first phase this year, they will enhance data tracking management of suspected evaders to analyze abnormal signs by military service stage, disease, doctor, and region, and by next year, they will build an early warning system to detect suspected evaders. They will also strengthen separate management of military records for celebrities, athletes, and others. Additionally, they will promote expansion of special judicial police duties, strengthen crackdown on information promoting cyber military service evasion, and enhance customized counseling services, publicity, and education to foster a culture of fair military service fulfillment.

The MMA stated, "We will promptly implement the comprehensive plan to relentlessly track down and expose military service evasion crimes so that they cannot take root in our society and to ensure a society where military service fulfillment is respected." They added, "We will ensure that individuals' human rights are not violated in this process."