Government and judicial moves to allow religious exceptions to mandatory military service spark backlash in South Korea.
In a country where all able-bodied men are obliged to serve in the army for up to 24 months, depending on their specific duties, whether to allow people to refuse to join the military due to religious beliefs has been always a controversial topic. In South Korea, most conscientious objectors – usually members of the Jehovah’s Witness Christian denomination — have ended up in jail.
However, the mood began to change when Moon Jae-in, who used to work as a human rights lawyer before he joined the political stage, became president. Moon vowed to find an alternative way for them to contribute to the country instead of serving in the military.
In the latest example of this shift, the Jeonju local court last month found five conscientious objectors not guilty of violating the Military Service Act.
That follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling from November of last year. The top court ruled that religious faith could be a legitimate reason for refusing to join the military when it released guidelines for courts to follow when dealing with cases of objectors.
The treatment of conscientious objectors has been often mentioned along with the violation of human rights in South Korea. The latest developments were welcomed by human rights advocates.
However, such developments also have created a loophole that can potentially be abused. About 900 objectors, for instance, have postponed their trials, reportedly waiting for more concrete changes to be introduced, which could be favorable to them.
Some online users are even sharing tips about how to convert to a new religion and avoid conscription without getting caught.
