Singer indicted for draft dodging by claiming he saw ghosts

By Jun Ji-hye

Kim Woo-joo

Singer Kim Woo-joo has been indicted without physical detention on charges of draft-dodging. According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Tuesday, the 30-year-old has been pretending to be a mental patient by claiming that he saw ghosts.

The Old Time vocalist is suspected of deceiving a psychiatrist and getting a report stating that he needs medicine and mental treatment for more than a year. He told the doctor that he suffers from visual and auditory hallucinations and insomnia.

He submitted the report to the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) that transferred him to public duty personnel service in October last year, instead of ordering him to active duty service.

Those who are transferred to public duty personnel service serve at state institutions, local governments or other public entities.

Kim was initially ordered to join active service in September 2004.

All able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for about two years under the nation’s mandatory conscription system because the nation is technically still at war with North Korea.

But he postponed enlistment by saying he needed to attend university. Then he managed to pass himself off as a mentally disordered person for more than two years from March 2012.

According to the prosecution, he told the doctor: “I have seen ghosts for eight years,” “I collapsed after being shocked due to ghosts, and was rushed to the emergency room twice” and “I do not go outdoors as I am too nervous.”

The investigators began their probe after an anonymous tip was given to the MMA.

The singer made his debut in 2005 with his debut album, “Inside My Heart,” and then joined Old Time in 2010.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye