8 in 10 draft dodgers violating travel rules go unpunished

More than 8 in 10 South Koreans who stayed overseas to dodge military service went unpunished over the past five years, data showed Saturday. Of 929 people who violated overseas travel rules related to military service between 2021 and 2025, 794 had investigations or prosecutions suspended. The finding comes as South Korea faces a military manpower shortage linked to its shrinking population.

The data covered 929 people who violated overseas travel rules related to military service between 2021 and 2025.

Of those cases, 794 were suspended, equal to 85.5 percent of the total.

South Korea’s armed forces shrank to about 450,000 personnel in 2025 from 563,000 in 2019.

By age, 27-year-olds accounted for 502 cases, or 54 percent, the largest share.

By country, the United States accounted for 595 people, or 64 percent, the largest share.

Published Oct 3, 2026 3:05 pm KST

Army conscripts undergo live-fire training at a boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, in this undated photo. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Army

More than 8 in 10 South Koreans who remained overseas to dodge military service have gone unpunished over the past five years, data showed Saturday.

Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men are required to serve at least 18 months in the military to help counter threats from North Korea. Draft evasion carries up to five years in prison, but men who remain abroad effectively freeze their criminal cases because the statute of limitations stops while they are overseas, allowing them to dodge prosecution until they age out of mandatory service at 38.

The data, obtained by Rep. Min Hong-chul of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) from the Military Manpower Administration, comes as South Korea struggles with a military manpower shortage amid its shrinking population.

It showed that 794 of the 929 individuals who violated overseas travel rules related to military service between 2021 and 2025 had their investigations or prosecutions suspended.

The number accounted for 85.5 percent of the total over the five-year period.

The finding takes on added significance as the country’s armed forces shrank to about 450,000 personnel in 2025 from 563,000 in 2019, largely due to a dwindling pool of men eligible for conscription.

By age, 27-year-olds accounted for more than half of the total with 502 cases, or 54 percent.

They were followed by 28-year-olds with 157 cases, or 16.9 percent; those aged 30 or older with 121, or 13 percent; 26-year-olds with 60, or 6.5 percent; 29-year-olds with 59, or 6.4 percent; and 25-year-olds with 30, or 3.2 percent.

By country, the United States had by far the largest number, with 595 people, or 64 percent of the total.

China followed with 62, Japan with 60, Canada with 45, the Philippines with 30 and Australia with 26. France and Germany each had 12, while Britain had five.

The DPK lawmaker called for authorities to ensure that identifying violations leads to investigations and confirmation that military service obligations are eventually fulfilled.

“I urge stronger information sharing and follow-up coordination among the Military Manpower Administration, investigative agencies and the Foreign Ministry to improve the effectiveness of managing military service obligations overseas,” he said.

周六公布的数据显示，过去五年中，超过八成的韩国人为了逃避兵役而滞留海外，却未受到任何惩罚。在2021年至2025年间违反与兵役相关的出境旅行规定的929人中，有794人的调查或起诉被中止。这一发现正值韩国面临因人口减少而导致的兵力短缺之际。

数据显示，2021 年至 2025 年间，共有 929 人违反了与兵役相关的海外旅行规定。

在这些案件中，有794起被中止，占总数的85.5%。

韩国武装部队人数将从 2019 年的 56.3 万人减少到 2025 年的约 45 万人。

按年龄划分，27 岁人群占 502 例，即 54%，是占比最高的人群。

按国家划分，美国占595人，即64%，是占比最高的国家。

发布于2026年10月3日下午3:05（韩国标准时间）

这张未注明日期的照片显示，韩国陆军新兵正在忠清南道论山市的新兵训练营接受实弹射击训练。照片由韩国陆军提供。

周六公布的数据显示，过去五年里，超过十分之八的韩国人为了逃避兵役而留在海外，却未受到惩罚。

根据韩国法律，所有身体健全的男性都必须服兵役至少18个月，以协助应对朝鲜的威胁。逃避兵役最高可判处五年监禁，但那些留在国外的男性实际上可以免于起诉，因为诉讼时效在他们身处海外期间停止计算，这使得他们可以逃避法律制裁，直到38岁达到强制服役年龄为止。

韩国执政党共同民主党议员闵洪哲从兵力厅获得了这些数据。此时，韩国正面临着人口减少和兵力短缺的困境。

数据显示，在 2021 年至 2025 年间，929 名违反与兵役相关的海外旅行规定的个人中，有 794 人的调查或起诉被中止。

该数字占五年期间总数的 85.5%。

鉴于该国武装部队人数从 2019 年的 56.3 万人减少到 2025 年的约 45 万人，这一发现更具意义，这主要是由于符合征兵条件的男性人数不断减少。

按年龄划分，27 岁人群占总数的一半以上，共有 502 例，即 54%。

其次是 28 岁人群，有 157 例，占 16.9%；30 岁及以上人群有 121 例，占 13%；26 岁人群有 60 例，占 6.5%；29 岁人群有 59 例，占 6.4%；25 岁人群有 30 例，占 3.2%。

按国家划分，美国人数最多，共有 595 人，占总数的 64%。

中国以 62 个席位位居第二，日本有 60 个席位，加拿大有 45 个席位，菲律宾有 30 个席位，澳大利亚有 26 个席位。法国和德国各有 12 个席位，而英国有 5 个席位。

朝鲜民主主义人民党议员呼吁有关部门确保发现违规行为后展开调查，并最终确认服兵役义务得到履行。

“我敦促军事人力局、调查机构和外交部加强信息共享和后续协调，以提高海外兵役义务的管理效率，”他说。