Two face trial in Korea's first 'proxy enlistment' case in over 50 years

A man who enlisted in the military under another person's name and agreed to share the salary has been put on trial.

Soldiers of the 21st Infantry Division patrol the barbed wire fence along Mount Gachilbong in Yanggu County, Gangwon, on Dec. 12, 2023. The photo is unrelated to the article. [YONHAP]

A man who enlisted in the military under another person's name and agreed to share the salary has been put on trial.

Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office announced on Monday that the man, surnamed Cho, was indicted and detained on charges of violating the Military Service Act and the Resident Registration Act.

In July, Cho entered a training camp for new recruits in Hongcheon County, Gangwon, using the identification card of another man, surnamed Choi. As part of the enlistment process, Military Manpower Administration officials check recruits' IDs to verify their identities during the handover process. However, officials failed to correctly confirm Cho's identity at the time.

This is the first case of proxy enlistment discovered since the administration was established in 1970.

Their crime was uncovered last month when Choi turned himself in to the administration. Upon learning of the situation, the administration arrested Cho, who had served for about three months as a proxy.

The police, who took over the case from the administration, detained Cho at the end of last month and handed him over to the prosecution. Choi was sent over to the prosecution without detention.

According to the police investigation, Cho agreed to share the soldier's salary with Choi and enlisted as a proxy to secure basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

The prosecution will reportedly put Choi on trial soon as well.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]