Craig
09-10-2004, 12:06 AM
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,271864,00.html?
NO TATOO ABUSE, STIFFER MEDICALS
S. Korea cracks down on military draft fraud
SEOUL - South Koreans who have tattoos or commit fraud in order to avoid conscription face jail terms of up to five years, according to the Korea Times.
The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) announced the latest move yesterday after a draft-dodging scandal involving baseball players.
On Sunday, about 50 professional baseballers were found to have avoided military duties since 1996 by 'manipulating' urine tests after learning the method from two brokers.
Able-bodied men are required to serve at least two years in the military before turning 30.
To circumvent that, the sons of the rich and powerful, including politicians, are sent abroad to study and return only after their 30th birthday.
Others exploit a loophole in conscription law which rules that men with large tattoos are unfit for service because the markings are an 'abomination among fellow soldiers'.
According to the new rules, punishment for those avoiding the draft by getting tattoos or committing fraud will increase from one to three years in prison to between three and five years.
The expiration period for the statute of limitations for such cases will be increased from three to five years.
Local conscription agencies will be able to demand documents from recruiting companies for those suspected of dodging army service.
Up to 20,000 professional players, entertainers and sons of high-ranking officials or high-income earners will also be subjected to stricter supervision during draft calls and for any exemption from military service.
Standards for physical checkups will be raised and 55 illnesses excluded from the conditions that now allow people to be exempted from conscription.
The baseballer players in the scandal pretended to have kidney-related diseases, so the authorities will re- examine those exempted from conscription due to such illnesses.
NO TATOO ABUSE, STIFFER MEDICALS
S. Korea cracks down on military draft fraud
SEOUL - South Koreans who have tattoos or commit fraud in order to avoid conscription face jail terms of up to five years, according to the Korea Times.
The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) announced the latest move yesterday after a draft-dodging scandal involving baseball players.
On Sunday, about 50 professional baseballers were found to have avoided military duties since 1996 by 'manipulating' urine tests after learning the method from two brokers.
Able-bodied men are required to serve at least two years in the military before turning 30.
To circumvent that, the sons of the rich and powerful, including politicians, are sent abroad to study and return only after their 30th birthday.
Others exploit a loophole in conscription law which rules that men with large tattoos are unfit for service because the markings are an 'abomination among fellow soldiers'.
According to the new rules, punishment for those avoiding the draft by getting tattoos or committing fraud will increase from one to three years in prison to between three and five years.
The expiration period for the statute of limitations for such cases will be increased from three to five years.
Local conscription agencies will be able to demand documents from recruiting companies for those suspected of dodging army service.
Up to 20,000 professional players, entertainers and sons of high-ranking officials or high-income earners will also be subjected to stricter supervision during draft calls and for any exemption from military service.
Standards for physical checkups will be raised and 55 illnesses excluded from the conditions that now allow people to be exempted from conscription.
The baseballer players in the scandal pretended to have kidney-related diseases, so the authorities will re- examine those exempted from conscription due to such illnesses.