Prosecutors Indict 137 Draft Dodgers Including Rapper Ravi... 1.6 Billion KRW Asset Seizure Ordered (Comprehensive)

Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and Military Manpower Administration Joint Investigation After 3 Months
137 People Referred to Trial for Draft Evasion and Military Service Corruption
Including Rapper Ravi, Nafla, Lawyer, and Oriental Medicine Doctor

The prosecution and the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) have referred 137 individuals, including rappers Ravi and Nafla, involved in military service evasion to trial and confiscated criminal proceeds amounting to 1.6 billion KRW through a joint investigation over three months.

[Grooblin's representative Ravi (30, real name Kim Won-sik) Photo by Yonhap News]

The joint investigation team from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and the MMA announced the 'Comprehensive Investigation Results on Epilepsy-Feigning Military Service Evasion Cases' on the 13th at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. They revealed that a total of 137 individuals were identified and prosecuted, and the entire amount of 1.60147 billion KRW in criminal proceeds earned by military service brokers was confiscated. The investigation was conducted over three months starting from December 5 of last year.

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

During the investigation of military service evasion cases, the joint investigation team uncovered clues of organized military service corruption related to the management of social service personnel by local governments and conducted an investigation. As a result, rapper Nafla (31, real name Choi Seok-bae), Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration service guidance officer A (58), Seocho District Office official B (58), and three other lower-ranking officials were indicted without detention on charges including violation of the Military Service Act and falsification and use of false official documents. Gu was additionally indicted in this case as well.

At around 11 a.m. on the 13th, the joint investigation team of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and the Military Manpower Administration exchanged greetings at the 'Comprehensive Investigation Results on Epilepsy Disguised Military Service Evasion Cases' press conference held in the briefing room of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

Brokers Divided Roles According to 'False Epilepsy' Scenario... Received Up to 110 Million KRW

According to the joint investigation team's findings, 108 military service obligors evaded service by feigning epilepsy at all stages before the physical examination, from the initial 'military physical examination' to the 'change of military disposition,' based on a 'false epilepsy scenario' prepared by brokers. Most initially received active duty (grades 1-3) but attempted evasion by obtaining a wartime labor service (grade 5, exemption from military service) classification through the change of military disposition process. Some committed the crime even after being classified as social service personnel (grade 4) to completely avoid military service.

Brokers provided scenarios tailored to the types of military service obligors to deceive medical institutions and the MMA, and divided roles such as patient and guardian before and after the military physical examination to prepare and execute the crime. For example, after contracting with a client, they selected themselves or evaders' family or acquaintances as witnesses and falsely claimed symptoms to medical institutions as patients and witnesses, pretending to have had seizures suddenly during long periods 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 due to age or limits on postponement of enlistment, they shortened the crime period by making false 119 emergency calls and going directly to a large hospital emergency room by ambulance.

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

The joint investigation team applied additional charges such as obstruction of official duties by deception and falsification and use of electronic records, unlike previous military service evasion investigations that only applied violations of the Military Service Act. In particular, the falsification charge falls under 'serious crimes' subject to criminal proceeds recovery under the amended Act on the Recovery of Criminal Proceeds, enabling effective confiscation of criminal proceeds even for crimes committed before the amendment. As a result, the court approved the full amount claimed, enabling confiscation of all criminal proceeds totaling 1.38387 billion KRW received by Gu and 217.6 million KRW by Kim, totaling 1.60147 billion KRW. The amounts brokers received ranged from a minimum of 3 million KRW to a maximum of 110 million KRW.

Rapper Nafla Involved in Military Service Corruption Case... Handed 25 Million KRW to Broker

During the investigation of military service evasion cases, the joint investigation team uncovered clues that public officials responsible for managing social service personnel attendance had systematically manipulated attendance records from February 2021 to November last year and attempted to dismiss certain personnel as unfit for service based on these falsified records. They detected discrepancies between the official attendance records (normal attendance) and actual attendance (absence) confirmed through forensic analysis of the military service records of the social service personnel under investigation. On January 30, they conducted raids on Seocho District Office, Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration, and other government offices, securing falsified attendance records, unfit-for-service dismissal documents, and application materials.

Rapper Nafla, facing a situation where postponement of social service military duty was no longer possible and needing to serve, planned military service evasion with agency CEO C and broker Gu through unfit-for-service dismissal or change of military disposition applications. Over about two years, he deceived doctors by pretending his depression worsened, obtained prescriptions but did not take medication, and obtained false medical certificates for military service to attempt dismissal and multiple re-examinations. According to the prosecution, the timing when Nafla and Ravi contacted Gu through C was almost the same, and Nafla handed 25 million KRW to Gu during this process. Nafla was rejected twice in the MMA's unfit-for-service review and also rejected in the change of military disposition application, so he must serve normally.

Officials A and B from Seocho District Office and Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration fabricated attendance records to help Nafla receive dismissal quickly. They falsely recorded attendance as if he had worked for 141 days, manipulating work records to appear unfit for service due to frequent tardiness, early leave, and sick leave. They are accused of inducing an unfit-for-service judgment by making it appear that Nafla struggled to work normally due to mental illness despite efforts to serve properly for a certain period.

The prosecution explained the reason for indictment, stating, "Although A and B seem to have been deceived without knowing Nafla's specific circumstances, military service administration must be conducted fairly, so violating legal procedures, falsifying official documents, or deceiving the MMA is considered a serious crime."

MMA to Establish Comprehensive Measures to Prevent Military Service Evasion

Based on the results of this joint investigation, the MMA has developed a 'Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Military Service Evasion' by identifying improvement tasks in four major areas: specifying physical grade evaluation criteria, tracking and preventing evasion, cracking down on evasion crimes and punishment, and counseling and education.

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

They will also enhance tracking management of suspected evaders and establish 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 plan to build an early warning system to identify suspected evaders. They will also strengthen separate management of military records for celebrities and athletes. Additionally, they will promote expanding the scope of special judicial police duties, strengthen crackdowns on online information promoting military service evasion, and enhance customized counseling services and publicity and education to foster a culture of fair military service.

The MMA stated, "We will promptly implement the comprehensive plan and relentlessly pursue military service evasion crimes so that they cannot take root in our society, striving to create a society where military service is more respected."