More than 900 South Korean men evaded mandatory military service over the past five years by failing to return home after overseas travel. Ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Hee cited Military Manpower Administration data showing that of 3,127 draft dodgers identified from January 2021 to October 2025, 912 violated overseas travel rules. Most of these violators have gone unpunished.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men must serve mandatory military service for at least 18 months. Under the Military Service Act, men aged 25 and older who have not completed their service must obtain approval from the Military Manpower Administration before traveling overseas or remaining abroad. Violators face criminal complaints and restrictions on passport issuance until age 37.
Ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Hee cited data from the Military Manpower Administration showing that of the 3,127 draft dodgers identified between January 2021 and October 2025, 912 violated overseas travel rules. The numbers rose yearly: 158 in 2021, 185 in 2022, 196 in 2023, 197 in 2024, and 176 in the first 10 months of 2025. Cases involving failure to return after short-term trips accounted for the largest share at 71.1 percent, or 648 instances.
Despite authorities' efforts to crack down on draft evasion, violations tied to overseas travel have continued to rise. However, most violators have escaped punishment: of the 912, only six received prison sentences, 17 got suspended sentences, and 25 had indictments postponed, while 780, or 85.5 percent, saw their indictments or investigations completely stopped.