Korea, South

by Changgeun Yeom

Yongsuk Lee

It is only recently that the term "nonviolent direct action" appeared in Korean society. Still, there are many misunderstandings about nonviolence and many people find direct action as a way of protest bizarre. Conservative media suggest that while nonviolent direct action had its place during the dictatorship, it is not legitimate in a democracy. However, after last year's candlelight rallies against the government decision to import US beef, the call for nonviolence is now better known in Korean society.

Editorial

Andreas Speck

The extremely difficult situation of conscientious objectors in South Korea has so far not been known to a broader public. Until only a few years ago, it has not even been known to those working on conscientious objection internationally, including War Resisters' International.

by Hyunji Oh
 
Conscientious objection in South Korea has a long history. The total amount of time during which Korean COs, mostly Jehovah's witnesses, have spent in prison for the past 50 years far exceeds ten thousand hours. Some people died while suffering from violence and torture during the military regime, and some people had to spend more than 7 years in prison. It was, however, only in early 2001 that conscientious objection became known to the Korean public. After that, it caused controversies in Korean society and became a big issue. At first, COs had to counter numerous criticisms and rebukes, feeling even bigger psychological frustrations than before. [1]

According to a survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by the South
Korean Ministry of Defence, 68.1 percent, or 1,365 of respondents,
objected to allowing conscientious objectors to perform a substitute
service. Some 28.9 percent, or 580 of them, said they supported the
idea. The outcome of the survey runs counter to the results of an
October survey, officials of the Military Manpower Administration said.
The previous survey of 554 people, including lawmakers, lawyers,
professors, journalists and religious leaders, said 85.5 percent
supported the idea.

Statement by Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection

On December 24, the Ministry of National Defense announced the result of the survey that The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) had commissioned with a policy think tank of Daejeon University. The announcement was mainly focused on the negative outcomes of the public consensus. Last June, the MMA announced that the final decision will be based on public agreements. Therefore, this survey could completely annul the alternative service for conscientious objectors announced on September, 2007.

Presently, more than 420 conscientious objectors are in South Korean for their
conscientious objection to military service. About 100 conscientious objectors are facing trials without being detained. It has to be expected that most will receive a prison sentence of 18 months.

A South Korean appelate court has again asked the Constitutional Court to rule whether article 88 paragraph 1 of the South Korean conscription law, which makes conscientious objection to military service illegal, is unconstitutional. This move comes at a time when the South Korean government is delaying the implementation of a law on conscientious objection.

A/HRC/8/40

(...)

World Without War in South Korea and other peace activists are working on a war profiteers study group. They have started to study the related books to gain information about Korean war profiteers(and enterprises) and weapons Korea produces for now, hoping to plan any kind of active non violent peace action some day soon.

For more information contact: peace@withoutwat.org

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea to submit an official opinion on the unconstitutionality of the Reserve Forces Act to the Constitutional Court.

An important step for the South Korean conscientious objection movement

With the announcement of the South Korean Ministry of Defence on 18 September 2007 that it is to allow conscientious objectors to do substitute services in a turnaround from its previous stance four months ago, the South Korean conscientious objection movement achieved an important victory.

While conscientious objection itself has a long history in South Korea, going back to 1939, for a long time it had been completely hidden from the public.