Overweight Koreans could be forced into army as active soldiers decline

New conscripts participate in military training in the army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong on Dec. 7. [NEWS1]

Even overweight individuals weighing more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) could be forced to serve in the military.

The Ministry of National Defense on Thursday said it is planning to revise the military fitness grading scales as the country has been seeing a significant decline of active duty soldiers caused by the shrinking population.

Draftees who might have been exempt from active duty under today’s system will likely serve as active soldiers once the revisions are approved at the cabinet meeting.

The Military Manpower Administration uses body mass index (BMI) to screen conscripts’ eligibility for the military.

People with a BMI under 18.4 are considered underweight. The scale between 18.5 and 24.9 is known to be a healthy weight, while those between 25 and 29.9 are classified as overweight. People in the range between 30 and 34.9 have class one obesity while those between 35 and 39.9 have class two obesity. Those who have a BMI over 40 are classified as severely obese.

According to the new proposal, those underweight with a BMI under 15 are exempt from active duty.

The current system rules that conscripts with a BMI under 16 are eligible to take lighter military roles.

Additionally, the authority plans to raise the upper limit for BMI in obese conscripts from the current 35 to 40.

The fitness evaluation classifies conscripts into physical grades from 1 to 6, where 1 to 3 serve in the military as active-duty personnel, while grade 4 draftees can be public service workers unless they voluntarily take active duties. Remnants are exempt from active duty and social services.

In the current system, draftees with a BMI range between 35 and 39.9 receive grade 4, allowing them to work as public service workers. If the changes become effective, they will be assigned to active soldier duties.

A 174-centimeter-tall (5.7 feet) conscript used to be judged as grade 4 when his weight exceeded 106 kilograms. However, the new change will require the person to weigh more than 121.1 kilograms to become grade 4.

When it comes to those underweight, 170-centimeter-tall men weighing 48.5 kilograms were classified as grade 4. However, per the revision, they should weigh less than 45.4 kilograms to have a grade 4.

The revision also targets people with flat feet.

In today’s system, people can obtain grade 4 if the angle between the talus and first metatarsal is above 16 degrees. The updated standard will be stiffer, adjusting upward to the degrees over 30.

Additionally, individuals with astigmatism require a medical statement indicating a diopter measurement exceeding 6.00 for an exemption from active duty. A diopter is a unit of measurement for lens power or refractive error of the eyes.

A person who suffered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury should undergo ligament reconstruction surgeries at least twice to have grade 5.

The amendment also strengthens the measures that could block the military from dodging attempts. It added extra examinations to filter out fake patients who exploit illnesses like epilepsy, which can be diagnosed subjectively.

“The authority checked that the underweights and some obese people have no trouble in serving as active-duty soldiers,” Jeon Ha-kyu, the ministry's spokesperson said.

“The ministry concluded that adjusting BMI standard would not cause any trouble in soldiers’ performance or combat capabilities.”

BY LEE HAY-JUNE, CHO JUNG-WOO, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]