Daegu District Court Sentences 20s with Full-Body Tattoos to 2 Years Probation for Avoiding Military Service

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 13th, the Daegu District Court Criminal Division 6 (Presiding Judge Ryu Young-jae) announced that A (26), who was indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act for tattooing his entire body to avoid military enlistment, was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation. The defendant was also ordered to undergo probation and perform 120 hours of community service.

According to the indictment, since 2013, A received multiple tattoo sessions of a tiger and dokkaebi (Korean goblin) on his back and was rated Grade 3 in the military physical examination. Even after that, he tattooed his arms, legs, and entire body, and in 2020, he enlisted as an active-duty soldier but was sent home due to his tattoos.

In the military physical examination for those sent home, A was assigned Grade 4, making him subject to social service agent duty, but he was prosecuted on charges of damaging his body to avoid military service. During the trial, he claimed, "It was not to evade military service but to complete the full-body tattoo by receiving additional tattoo sessions," but the court did not accept this.

The court explained the sentencing rationale in the judgment, stating, "It is reasonable to view that the full-body tattoo was completed to avoid active-duty service," and "considering the fact that he must serve again as a social service agent," among other factors.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.