Controversy arose both inside and outside the military as the first case of allowing alternative service because of’personal beliefs’ rather than religion came out. This is because the maintenance of the conscription system may become difficult if the scope of’conscientious objection’ is expanded in a situation where military service resources are rapidly decreasing due to the aftermath of ultra-low birth. Last year, Korea’s total fertility rate was 0.84, the lowest in history, the only number among the OECD countries.
Accept the activities of peace groups, not religions
Arbitrary judgment controversy over’personal beliefs’
Increasing conscientious objection may lead to a shortage of troops
According to the Military Manpower Administration on the 24th, the alternative service review committee held a plenary meeting on the 22nd of last month and decided to admit the transfer of the substitute service to Mr. A, 30, who requested alternative service because of the belief of non-violence and peace. Mr. A has been active in the civic group’World Without War’.
During the decision process, the jury evaluated that Mr. A continued to engage in related activities and that the statements of those around him were consistent. The organization to which Mr. A belonged is currently campaigning against military service, saying, “It is a movement against militarism and nationalism in our society that justifies and makes state violence possible.”
In April 2018, Mr. A refused to join active duty and applied for alternative service. Accordingly, the decision came when the prosecution indicted Mr. A for violating the Military Service Act and a trial is in progress. An official from the Military Manpower Administration said, “This is the first case that came out after the replacement screening committee was established in June of last year,” and said, “In addition to Mr. A, there are eight more pending trials.”
Inside and outside the military, this decision is expected to affect other agendas currently being deliberated and applications to be raised in the future. The key is the fairness of military service obligations and the supply and demand of military service resources.
If an individual’s beliefs are expanded to the cause of refusal to enlist in active service, the controversy over arbitrary judgments over how far is the’recognized belief’ and the’unrecognized belief’. In addition, there are concerns that if the justification for refusing to enter active service is admitted solely by conviction, the duty of military service will become ineffective.
Yang-wook, an adjunct professor at Hannam University’s Graduate School of Defense Strategy, said, “Recognizing peaceism as a conviction and conscientious objection to military service is an act that defines military service as contrary to peace.” It can destroy the foundation,” he warned.
The 20-year-old male population, which was 330,000 last year, is expected to decline rapidly in the future. Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Mo Jong-hwa said in a state audit in October last year, “From 2032, the number of active duty personnel required per year is 200,000, but (military service resources) will drop to 180,000 or less, so there will be a shortage.”
For this reason, the Military Manpower Administration is working hard to raise the judgment rate for active service by lowering the criteria for judging military service. For example, people who have a’gangster tattoo’ on their body from this year are also eligible for active service.
This decision draws attention to future court rulings. On the 25th, the Supreme Court, like Mr. A, is scheduled to rule on a case of refusing to train reserve troops because of personal beliefs.
Earlier, on the 28th of last month, the Supreme Court abolished and returned the court case against a person who refused to train reserve troops for religious reasons, saying that it was “just cause”. In this regard, on the 22nd of last month, the Substitutes Jury also accepted Mr. B’s request for an alternative service for training reserve forces because of his religious beliefs. He will be in charge of subsidiary duties such as meal service, supply of supplies, and health and hygiene in prisons for 3 nights and 4 days each year until the 6th year of the reserve army, as in the substitute station.
Reporter Kim Sang-jin [email protected]
