A South Korean man narrowly avoided jail for deliberately making himself fat to dodge compulsory military service.

The 21-year-old, who wasn't named, packed on about 65lbs in just six months after graduating high school so he would be unfit to serve.

Standing five feet nine inches, the man ballooned from 187lbs in February 2016 to more than 250lbs when he had his second physical examination in July.

A South Korean man narrowly avoided jail for deliberately making himself fat to dodge compulsory military service (young men waiting to take their exam pictured)

His plan worked as his 36.1 body mass index was too high for the military and he was given a less demanding public service position.

However, police later found he gained the weight deliberately and he was arrested and found guilty on Sunday, according to the Korea Times.

The Cheongju District Court give him a suspended sentence instead of the up to five year maximum prison term for draft dodging.

Fleeing, causing self-injury, or otherwise cheating to avoid the two-year military service requirement is illegal under South Korean law.

All men aged 18 to 35 have to complete the service, with the only exemptions being for Olympic medalists or gold medal winners at the Asian Games.

Fleeing, causing self-injury, or otherwise cheating to avoid the two-year military service requirement is illegal under South Korean law

All men aged 18 to 35 have to complete the service, with the only exemptions being for Olympic medalists or gold medal winners at the Asian Games

Conscientious or religious objection is not recognised, leading to at least 400 people being imprisoned every year for refusing on those grounds.

Conscripts receive as little as £106 a month plus a pair of sneakers, which the government budget in some years hasn't been able to afford.

Trainees start with a grueling five-week basic training course where bullying is rife and they are subjected to gas drills.

The requirement was introduced in 1957, four years after the Korean war, so the population would be ready to defend against North Korean invasion.