FIFA, KartRider, and Other Games: Jehovah's Witness Member Found Not Guilty of Military Service Refusal... "Violence Cannot Be Assumed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] A court ruling has stated that even if a Jehovah's Witness who refused active military service due to religious beliefs played various online games, the sincerity of their conscience cannot be denied as long as those games are not highly violent.

The Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kim Cheong-mi) announced on the 18th that it dismissed the prosecution's appeal in the appellate trial of A (25), who was indicted for violating the Military Service Act and was acquitted in the first trial.

Regarding the prosecution's claim that it is difficult to accept the sincerity of conscience given that A played various online games such as FIFA Online 4, Crazy Arcade, KartRider, and MapleStory in 2020, the court stated, "Since these games cannot be regarded as highly violent, it is not possible to infer that the defendant has violent tendencies or to deny the sincerity of conscience opposing war and killing."

A, a Jehovah's Witness, was brought to trial on charges of not enlisting despite receiving a notice for active military service in May 2016.

Previously, the first trial court acquitted A, citing that all of A's family members are Jehovah's Witnesses, that A was baptized and became a member at the age of 11 in 2008, and that A expressed willingness to fulfill alternative service if a non-military substitute service system unrelated to the military was introduced.

However, the prosecution appealed, arguing, "It is difficult to accept that A's refusal of military service is based on urgent and specific conscience, and that this conscience is deep, firm, and sincere."

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