A man in his 20s with "back pain and mental illness" classified as supplementary service, raised suspicions

Evidence of Dating and Traveling with Girlfriend
Court: "Consistently Unconvincing Excuses... Strict Punishment Needed"

A man in his 20s who pretended to have a mental illness and was classified as supplementary service was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation.

According to Yonhap News on the 9th, Judge Cho Hyun-seon of the Criminal Division 6 at Cheongju District Court sentenced A (26), who was indicted for violating the Military Service Act, to one year in prison with two years of probation and ordered 80 hours of community service.

Avoidance of military service. Yonhap News Agency

A, who was classified as an active duty soldier (physical grade 3), enlisted in October 2021 but was discharged after one week due to back pain. Afterwards, A complained of symptoms of mental illness and received treatment at a psychiatric hospital in Cheongju for about nine months. During psychiatric treatment, A reportedly continuously expressed difficulties in social activities, saying "I am afraid of meeting people." Eventually, on July 20 of the same year, he was diagnosed with depressive disorder and low intelligence at the hospital and was assigned to supplementary service (grade 4) for military duty.

However, the Military Manpower Administration became suspicious because A had no history of psychiatric treatment before the first military examination and stopped treatment after receiving the grade 4 classification, leading to an investigation.

The court found that A falsely claimed symptoms of mental illness to receive the supplementary service classification. It was confirmed that contrary to his statements at the hospital, he continued to live an ordinary daily life.

Judge Cho pointed out, "The defendant stated at the psychiatric clinic that 'he does not eat well and just lies in his room,' but in reality, it was confirmed that he traveled to various places, participated in festivals, and met his girlfriend." The court also noted, "The defendant enlisted but was discharged after one week due to back pain, and immediately after that, he did not visit related medical departments but went to psychiatry," adding, "There is no record of psychiatric visits after receiving the supplementary service classification."

A claimed in court, "I actually have a mental illness and went to psychiatry," but this was not accepted.

Judge Cho stated, "The defendant's act of falsely or exaggeratedly describing his condition to reduce his military service obligation, considering the content, method, and circumstances, is of very poor nature," and added, "Considering his consistent use of unconvincing excuses to avoid responsibility and the need for strict punishment, the sentence was determined."