35 "Conscientious Objectors" Receive First Alternative Service Decision... Working in Prison

Alternative Service Review Committee Admits 35 Conscientious Objectors with Not Guilty Verdicts to Alternative Service
"Alternative Service Admission Based on Overall Life Circumstances"

Alternative Service Review Committee Plenary Meeting. Thirty-five conscientious objectors, who refuse military service based on religious beliefs or freedom of conscience, were allowed to perform alternative service for the first time. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Thirty-five conscientious objectors to military service, so-called 'conscientious objectors' who refuse military service based on freedom of conscience such as religious beliefs, have been allowed to perform alternative service for the first time.

The Alternative Service Review Committee announced on the 15th at its first plenary meeting that 35 individuals were incorporated into alternative service. It was reported that there was no fact-finding investigation or preliminary review committee deliberation in the decision to incorporate them into alternative service.

These 35 individuals had avoided enlistment due to religious beliefs or other reasons, were prosecuted, and subsequently acquitted.

When the review committee receives applications for incorporation into alternative service, it is supposed to conduct investigations of acquaintances and social network services (SNS) to determine the sincerity of conscience. However, since the Supreme Court previously ruled that their refusal of military service was a "justifiable reason based on true conscience," procedures such as fact-finding investigations were omitted.

Starting from October, they will be summoned as alternative service personnel and will perform auxiliary duties such as meal service, health and hygiene, and facility management at correctional facilities under the Ministry of Justice for 36 months while living in dormitories.

The 36-month period is twice the length of active duty soldiers (18 months, which was shortened until 2021). It is similar to the duration of alternative service personnel such as public health doctors (34 to 36 months).

The incorporation of conscientious objectors who have been acquitted by the Supreme Court into alternative service is expected to increase in the future.

As of the 30th of last month, about 650 people have been acquitted of charges of evading military service, and about 310 are awaiting trial. The number of people estimated to be postponing service due to freedom of conscience is about 870.

Additionally, the review committee also stipulated the factors to consider when judging the conscience of applicants for incorporation into alternative service at the plenary meeting on the same day.

The factors considered include precedents from the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court, overseas cases from countries that first operated alternative service systems such as Germany, the United States, and Taiwan, as well as expert opinions.

The areas of review for incorporation into alternative service are ▲ the substance of conscience ▲ the sincerity of conscience ▲ the binding force of conscience.

The review committee distinguishes between religious beliefs and personal beliefs in the review process. In the case of religious beliefs, it examines whether the applicant is a formal member of the religion, the content of doctrines related to refusal of military service, the motivation and circumstances of adopting the religion, and the overall lifestyle.

In the case of personal beliefs, the committee reviews the timing and motivation of belief formation, consistency, and whether there are actions contrary to the belief.

Furthermore, the committee plans to review additional or revised matters during the operation process and to modify and supplement the factors considered in the review.

The review committee stated, "Today is the day we take the first step in the alternative service system," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that the newly introduced system can be established as a foundation as soon as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.