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| Men walk toward an Army barracks after a welcoming ceremony at the Republic of Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, in this January 2018 file photo. An investigation is widening into people suspected of offering money to "consultants" who, in return, share tips on how to avoid their mandatory military service. Korea Times file |
By Jung Min-ho
A football player damaged his own wrist with heavy dumbbells. Another man even lost his hearing after subjecting his ears to loud horn sounds. Some others faked mental health conditions.
They all did so for the same purpose: dodging their compulsory military service. For many, the almost two years of service is a thankless task given to all able-bodied men born in South Korea, which is technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with only an armistice.
According to Military Manpower Administration data disclosed Tuesday by Rep. Song Gab-seok of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, 321 people have been caught making such attempts to evade conscription over the past five years.
Experts believe the real number of such draft-dodging cases, including those who did not get caught, is far greater. According to data released earlier this week by the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice, a state-run research center, 335 young men were reported missing in 2021 just before they were to join the military. Nearly 1,800 such cases have occurred in the past four years.
The revelations come amid a widening investigation into the people suspected of offering money to a "consultant" surnamed Koo, who gave them tips on how to avoid military duty.
The broker has been indicted on charges of offering such information to seven people, who allegedly paid him and his accomplice, surnamed Kim, at least millions of won (thousands of dollars) per case. The first hearing on their charges will begin on Friday, with investigators expanding the probe into 100 people now.
Faking the symptoms of epilepsy, a neurological condition that causes unprovoked seizures, is known to be one of the main tactics. They claimed that, with a yearlong medical record for treating such symptoms, it would be possible to get Grade Four in the physical test even without a clear-cut diagnosis.
Under the current conscription system, those in Grades One, Two and Three must enlist for active duty service. Those in Grade Four are eligible for alternative service such as working at a district office or state-designated company.
Ravi, a rapper of boy band VIXX, was one of the alleged clients. The star reportedly claimed to have shown symptoms of epilepsy. He eventually received Grade Four before beginning his alternative service as a social worker last October. Groovl1n, his agency, said it will cooperate with the investigation without revealing details.
Another high-profile client was Jo Jae-sung, a volleyball player of Ansan OK Financial Group Okman. He also received Grade Four in the exam due to reporting symptoms of epilepsy last year. After the issue came to the spotlight, he admitted to evading his mandatory duty by using illegal means and issued a public apology.
A son of a former senior judge is also being investigated for allegedly offering money to the brokers. His father, who has been working at a major law firm since stepping down from the bench in 2017, is even suspected of helping the consultant Koo find lawyers.
