Military manpower agency creates cyber probe team to crack down on draft dodgers
Soliders training at an Army basic training in Nonsan, 152 kilometers south of Seoul, are seen in this Dec. 7, 2023 file photo. Yonhap
The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) said Thursday it has created a cyber investigation team to step up monitoring on those who attempt to evade mandatory military service and crack down on draft dodgers.
The MMA said the new team will look into those who post information on how to evade compulsory military service and individuals avoiding service through fraudulent screening and other measures. It is tasked with collecting and analyzing digital evidence.
Under a revised military service law, which goes into effect in May, those who post and spread information regarding draft evasion will be subject to up to two years in prison or a fine of 20 million won ($15,277).
The agency also launched a 20-member probe team under the branch overseeing Gyeonggi Province and Incheon to better monitor draft dodgers, raising the total number of special investigators to 60.
The MMA said the latest measures are aimed at effectively dealing with a rising number of deliberate draft evasions as the pool of military conscripts is shrinking amid low birthrates.
In March 2023, over 100 men were indicted on charges of intentionally avoiding military service by posing as epilepsy patients.
All able-bodied Korean men are obliged to serve in the Army for 18 months, the Navy for 20 months or the Air Force for 21 months. (Yonhap)