Why Has Alternative Service for 'Byeongyeok Geojuja' Drastically Decreased?..."Due to Its Punitive Nature"

Applications Have Continued to Decline Since Introduction in 2020
"The Period Is Unreasonably Long... Close to Punishment"

The number of applicants for alternative service, targeting conscientious objectors based on religious beliefs, has decreased by nearly 77% in two years. It is analyzed that the punitive nature of the alternative service influenced this decline.

On the 3rd, the National Assembly Legislative Research Office published a newsletter titled "Issues and Points" the day before, featuring a contribution by Legislative Research Officer Hyung Hyuk-gyu titled "Three Years Since the Implementation of the Alternative Service System, Still Controversy Over the Punitive Nature of the System."

According to data provided by the Military Manpower Administration to Research Officer Hyung, the number of alternative service applicants was 1,962 in 2020 but sharply dropped to 574 in 2021 and 453 in 2022. Last year, a total of 267 applied by October. Compared to the first year of introduction, the numbers were only 29.3% in 2021 and 23.1% in 2022.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The main cause was confirmed to be a decrease in the number of applicants for alternative service due to religious reasons, such as members of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Applicants requesting alternative service for religious reasons decreased continuously from 1,951 in 2020 to 565 in 2021, 445 in 2022, and 261 by October 2023.

Additionally, those who applied for alternative service due to political or ideological reasons other than religion also gradually decreased from 11 in the first year to 9 in 2021 and 8 in 2022.

The alternative service system was first implemented in October 2020. It was established following the Constitutional Court's June 2018 decision that the Military Service Act provisions, which did not stipulate alternative service for conscientious objectors based on religious beliefs, were unconstitutional.

However, Research Officer Hyung stated, "The alternative service period was determined politically, considering public sentiment rather than fairness based on the difficulty of the service." Because of this, the alternative service is practically close to punishment, negatively affecting the establishment of the system.

Research Officer Hyung said, "As of November 2023, it is understood that at least eight conscientious objectors have refused alternative service due to its punitive nature."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently, alternative service personnel serve in correctional facilities for 36 months, which is twice the 18-month active duty period of the Army, making the period unreasonably long and strongly punitive. Research Officer Hyung argued, "Now that more than three years have passed since the introduction of alternative service and the first group of alternative service personnel have been discharged, it is necessary to review past operations and consider measures to reduce the punitive nature, such as adjusting the service period."

He also suggested expanding service institutions beyond correctional facilities and that the form of service should vary, such as dormitory living or commuting, depending on factors like having children or holding professional qualifications, similar to regular soldiers.

Research Officer Hyung emphasized, "If the alternative service, created to replace military service based on the freedom of conscience guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, continues to face controversy over its punitive nature, the original purpose of the system's introduction will be undermined."

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