Welcome to Learning English, a daily 30-minute program from the Voice of America.

I'm Katie Weaver.

And I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

This program is designed for English learners, so we speak a little slower, and we use words and phrases, especially written, for people

learning English.

On today's program, Brian Lynn reports on a South Korean court's ruling against a man for gaining weight to avoid military service.

Jill Robbins and I have a story about militancy in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh.

We follow that with tips for writing students, then the lesson of the day. But first,

here is Brian. A South Korean court has found a man guilty of purposefully gaining weight to avoid

completing required service in the country's military.

Seoul's Eastern District Court sentenced the 26-year-old man to one year in prison

for violating the country's military service act.

The Associated Press reports that the court suspended the sentence for two years.

The court said the man did not appeal the November 13th ruling against him.

The court said the man had gained more than 20 kilograms

in an effort to get released from a government requirement

to serve in the military.

South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve in the military. South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months.

However, some individuals with health issues can instead perform service in non-military positions.

Such service can be carried out at welfare centers

or at other approved places within communities.

People with serious health problems are not required to serve in the military at all.

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