Reposted from Amnesty International Chicago
Published on May 13, 2015
Short film produced by Amnesty International's Regional Office in Hong Kong.
The film summarises the issue of prison terms and criminal records meted out to conscientious objectors in South Korea.
In South Korea, men who refuse to undergo compulsory military service are tried in civil courts for violation of the, Military Services Act (MSA). Under the MSA typically all males ages 18-35must serve an average of 24 months active military service followed by subsequent duties in the Reserved Forces for the following eight years. Most conscientious objectors in South Korea currently serve a minimum of 18 months in prison. They leave prison with a criminal record and are consequently discriminated against when seeking employment.
The large majority of conscientious objectors in South Korea are Jehovah’s Witnesses. The remainder conscientiously object because of other religious beliefs or have moral, ethical, humanitarian or similar reasons for refusing to carry out military service. There is no provision in South Korean law for conscientious objectors to military service to do an alternative civilian form of service.
The film summarises the issue of prison terms and criminal records meted out to conscientious objectors in South Korea.
In South Korea, men who refuse to undergo compulsory military service are tried in civil courts for violation of the, Military Services Act (MSA). Under the MSA typically all males ages 18-35must serve an average of 24 months active military service followed by subsequent duties in the Reserved Forces for the following eight years. Most conscientious objectors in South Korea currently serve a minimum of 18 months in prison. They leave prison with a criminal record and are consequently discriminated against when seeking employment.
The large majority of conscientious objectors in South Korea are Jehovah’s Witnesses. The remainder conscientiously object because of other religious beliefs or have moral, ethical, humanitarian or similar reasons for refusing to carry out military service. There is no provision in South Korean law for conscientious objectors to military service to do an alternative civilian form of service.
