Probe Into Draft Dodgers Expanded Nationwide

Police yesterday expanded their investigation into draft dodgers to the entire country after nabbing suspected offenders in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

A police source said, “We will work with the Military Manpower Administration to expand our probe into people who recently received exemptions from military service, and will thoroughly investigate celebrities (for draft dodging) considering that certain athletes have been involved in recent draft dodging cases.”

Investigators are eyeing popular methods to receive draft exemption including the intentional causing of injury, adding protein to urine to be diagnosed with illness, and using another person’s disease diagnosis.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested a self-proclaimed broker suspected of helping get draft exemptions by changing the names of patients; another who assisted others to get a diagnosis of liver failure by using his own illness; and a car racer who asked the broker to help him get an exemption.

Investigators also found a memo with the name and social security number of a famous singer at the broker’s office, but the broker denied knowing anything about the memo.

Police also caught more draft dodgers who cheated to receive a shorter military service or got exempt after undergoing surgery for dislocation of a shoulder joint.

In the Ilsan district of Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, a police official said, “We investigated 203 people who underwent surgery allegedly to avoid the draft, and have identified 49 of them.”

Police are considering seeking arrest warrants for everyone found to be suspicious of draft dodging through circumstantial evidence.

firedy@donga.com