Young J sentenced to one year for military service evasion

A South Korean appellate court has overturned a previous acquittal for Young J, the leader of the dance crew JUST JERK, sentencing him to one year in prison for violating the Military Service Act.

Young J was accused of feigning mental health issues, specifically panic disorder, to receive a lower-tier military service classification. Between July 2020 and February 2021, he allegedly misled medical professionals at a university hospital to obtain a medical certificate stating he was unable to conduct normal daily or economic activities. This resulted in him being assigned to social service agent status (Level 4) rather than active duty.

The prosecution argued that while Young J claimed his condition prevented economic activity, he continued to earn income through choreography and television appearances, such as on the show ‘Street Man Fighter’. Furthermore, he reportedly ceased the continuous treatment recommended in his medical documents immediately after receiving his military classification.

While the first instance court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove intentional deception, the appellate court found that Young J exploited the subjective nature of psychiatric diagnoses to evade his national defense duties. The court described the nature of the crime as highly malicious, noting it undermines the integrity of the military service system. He was not taken into custody immediately following the sentence due to a lack of flight risk.