Korea, South

On 28th June, in a landmark decision, South Korea’s Constitutional Court ordered the government to introduce alternative service of a civilian nature for conscientious objectors.

Last Thursday, in a landmark decision, South Korea’s Constitutional Court ordered the government to introduce alternative service of a civilian nature for conscientious objectors. The court ruled that Article 5 of the Military Service Act (MSA), which fails to provide alternative forms of national service, is unconstitutional and obligated lawmakers to change the law by the end of 2019.

Last Thursday, in a landmark decision, South Korea’s Constitutional Court ordered the government to introduce alternative service of a civilian nature for conscientious objectors.

Human Rights Council, 38th Session, 29th June 2018

Agenda Item 6 – General Debate

Speaker: Derek BRETT

Contact: derek.brett@ifor.org

Last September my organization joined a joint statement under this item drawing attention to the extent to which freedom of religion or belief was under-represented in UPR recommendations.

On 15th May - International Conscientious Objection Day - War Resisters' International drew attention to the 250+ young people in jail in South Korea for refusing military service. Hundreds of people sent messages of protest to the Korean authorities and messages of support to conscientious objectors in South Korea!

The launch of the Korean version of WRI's book Conscientious Objection: A Practical Companion for Movements was held today in Seoul! It has been published by our affiliate in South Korea, World Without War.

You can read the book in English here. The Spanish edition will be out later in the year!

Seventy years after the partition of Korea, the southern part of the peninsula experiences ever-increasing military expenditure, drawing millions of Koreans into a compulsory 21-month long military service. Despite this, the general public tends to neglect how civil society in a post-Korean War (1950-53) context has been militarised.

On 15th day activists around the world marked International Conscientious Objection Day. We stood in solidarity with conscientious objectors in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), over 250 of whom are in prison - right now - for refusing military service.

Tuesday 15th May is International Conscientious Objection day. Use our text to send a postcard to protest the imprisonment of over 250 war refusers in South Korea.

A statement from World Without War, WRI's member group in South Korea, for International Conscientious Objection Day.

In a move that could endanger conscientious objectors, South Korea's Military Manpower Administration has published the personal information of conscientious objectors in a public, online registry of draft dodgers.

Take action on 15th May to support over 250 young people in jail in South Korea, and demand that conscientious objectors not be imprisoned in future.