At the end of his trials and whatnot, he said that he truely wanted to serve but he couldn't by the law since he had already been exempted, but when the head of the military office publically announced that they would make an exception for him if he contacted them about it, he stayed quiet and 'reflected' for 5 years. Either that or he made excuses about having social anxiety? (which he probably did have, since the whole nation hated him at the time)
..That being said, I think the level of hate he's getting is pretty extreme compared to what he's done..