"I starved myself and drank only water before the examination"
Court considers his pledge to enlist as an active-duty soldier
A man in his twenties who deliberately reduced his weight to receive a reduction in military service was sentenced to a suspended prison term.
According to the legal community and Yonhap News on June 19, Judge Yoon Sungshik of the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 3 sentenced Mr. A (21), who was indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act, to six months in prison with a one-year suspension.
The court stated, "The defendant attempted to receive a reduction in military service obligations by deliberately reducing his weight, and considering the motive, means, and method, the nature of the crime is not light. However, the court also considered that he has acknowledged his wrongdoing and has pledged to fulfill his military service obligations faithfully as an active-duty soldier in the future."
Mr. A lost weight by eating almost nothing and drinking at most one glass of water per day, starting two days before his military service physical examination on July 3, 2023. As a result, his BMI (Body Mass Index) was measured at 15.7 at the examination center, and he received a deferred disposition.
About two months later, on September 6 of the same year, after receiving a notice to undergo a "spot check," he again reduced his weight by not eating at all, lowering his weight to 47.7 kg (with a height of 177.2 cm). At that time, his BMI was 15.1, and he was referred to trial on charges of being classified as a Grade 4 social service agent.
According to the current classification standards, individuals with a height between 161 cm and 204 cm receive a Grade 4 classification if their BMI is less than 16 or greater than or equal to 35.
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