Korea, South

South Koreans reversed a martial law decree in just six hours, showing how ordinary citizens and politicians can take fast action to uphold democracy.

On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law. Park An-su, appointed as the martial law commander, announced decrees from the Martial Law Command. These decrees severely undermine constitutional rights such as freedom of the press, freedom of publication, and freedom of assembly and association. Both the President’s declaration of martial law and the martial law commander’s decrees are actions that gravely threaten democracy.

World Without War is a member of War Resisters' International based in South Korea, and is one of the most successful pacifist and antimilitarist movements in Asia, taking action on issues such as the arms trade, ending mandatory male conscription and activist empowerment. This year, WWW is celebrating its 20th anniversary by celebrating its achievements, reflecting on its challenges, and envisioning the coming years/decades. To mark this occasion, we interviewed front-line activist Jungmin Choi.

We are pleased to announce the conference “Conscientious Objection in Asia”, which will be held on 18th to 20th November in Seoul, South Korea. The event will gather conscientious objectors (COs) and campaigners of conscientious objection (CO) from across Asia to discuss the problems COs are facing today and how to counter these problems. The event is organised by World Without War in cooperation with Connection e.V. and War Resisters’ International.

Since last year, five men from Russia have been living at Incheon Airport in South Korea after fleeing Russia's military mobilization order. Since their arrival, they have been waiting for the Korean government to allow them to enter the country and apply for refugee status. Sign the petition to support these Russian asylum seekers who refused to join the war, to be allowed to enter the country and grant them refugee status

This Thursday, 1st December, is Prisoners for Peace Day, a day to show solidarity with those activists who have been imprisoned for their work for peace and conscientious objectors imprisoned for their refusal to take up arms.

This year, we want to highlight the situation of many people in Russia and Ukraine that are imprisoned or facing imprisonment for resisting the current war in Ukraine. 

You can find the list of Prisoners for Peace here.

This Thursday, 1st December, is Prisoners for Peace Day, a day to show solidarity with those activists who have been imprisoned for their work for peace and conscientious objectors imprisoned for their refusal to take up arms. See a list of those imprisoned for their peace activism and conscientious objection here.

CNO Tech is a South Korean arms company, who manufacturer a range of equipment of weapons for military and law enforcement use, including single and multi-shot “riot” launchers...

On February 28, more than 390 South Korean NGOs held a press conference in front of the Russian Embassy in South Korea calling on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine and calling for peace. Following their press conference, the NGOs representatives delivered their statement to the Russian Embassy. Read their statement here.

This is a list of those who are currently in prison for their conscientious objection to military service and their work for peace.

December 1st is Prisoners for Peace Day. On this day (and every day) we encourage you to show solidarity with the activists and conscientious objectors imprisoned due to their peace work and their refusal to take arms and perform military service.

Here is a list of some of those currently in prison for their work for peace.