'Broker Pretending to Be Uncle Who Witnessed Epilepsy Symptoms' Suspended Sentence for Military Service Evasion

The court sentenced a man who falsely feigned epilepsy to evade military service and told a doctor that his uncle, who was actually a broker, witnessed the symptoms, to a suspended sentence. The military service broker involved in the crime is currently in custody and on trial.

According to the legal community on the 1st, Judge Kim Yoon-hee of the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 9 sentenced A (30, male), who was indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act and obstruction of official duties by deception, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension and ordered 80 hours of community service on the 26th of last month.

A, who had postponed his military service date for about 10 years, is accused of handing over a contract fee of 18 million won to military service broker Gu (47) around October 2021 and attempting to evade military service by feigning epilepsy under Gu’s instructions.

Although A had no epilepsy symptoms around October 2021, he told a doctor at A University Hospital located in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, "I visited because I had symptoms of losing consciousness for the past three years, and this Monday I fainted for three minutes while playing a mobile phone game."

He also falsely claimed that Gu was his uncle and said, "My uncle witnessed it when I collapsed."

Thereafter, he continued to pretend to have epilepsy to the same doctor, received a military medical certificate stating the diagnosis of 'epilepsy' in January last year, and was classified as Grade 7, subject to re-examination, in March of the same year.

He then continued to receive prescriptions for epilepsy medication and submitted medical records showing he was receiving treatment for epilepsy to the Military Manpower Administration, which ultimately led to him being classified as Grade 4 supplementary service in December last year.

Judge Kim said, "The crime is serious as it was an attempt to evade national defense duties," but took into account that the defendant was a first-time offender and confessed to all charges in sentencing.

Judge Kim also added, "It appears that (A) will enlist and faithfully fulfill his military duties through re-examination and other procedures."