Conscientious objectors refuse reserve forces drills

Those who refuse reserve forces training call for the nation to recognize conscientious objection and alternative service, at a press conference in front of the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Choi Ha-young

Three people have declared their refusal to join reserve forces training, calling for the nation to recognize conscientious objection to military services including training and adopt alternative services.

This is the first open rejection of the training, an additional duty for those who have finished their military service, even though 897 people have already refused without declaring it openly between 1959 and 2010 and faced punishment. There have been multiple open objections to military services according to religious values or nonviolence ideology.

Kim Hyeong-su, E Sang and Jo Sung-hyun, who are already on trial, said Wednesday they opted not to participate in the reservist training because it goes against their religion and belief in peace.

"For me, peace represents the life of Jesus. Thus, realizing peace in this world is my duty as a Christian, which collides with the training," Kim said at the press conference organized by an anti-war civic group, Without War, in front the Ministry of National Defense in central Seoul.

While conscientious objectors are punished once with jail terms, those refusing the training face multiple punishments each time they refuse to attend. Kim has paid 800,000 won ($680) in fines for the last three years, and he may have to pay an additional 3 million won for related cases pending in courts.

According to Without War, those rejecting the training have paid 2.4 million won in fines on average. Among them, 17 paid more than 10 million won and 14 were jailed. The U.N. Human Rights Committee said the multiple punishments violate their civil liberty.

"I witnessed the pain of war while I was in Vietnam, which still remains," Jo said. "I've never imagined rejecting the training, but on my way to agonize over peace and war, I always met this problem, reserve force training."

Beyond the duty and penalties, E expressed frustrations with military culture, such as misogynistic words, hatred against social minorities, anticommunism and unconditional obedience.

"I already attended three trainings until last year. But I couldn't stop thinking about it, because of my memories at military camp, full of inequality and suppression," E said.

They said the U.N. Human Rights Committee also recommended amnesty for conscientious objectors including those who refuse reserve forces trainings.

Local courts ruled in favor of conscientious objectors nine times this year. In October, a high court suggested alternative service in its ruling, but the government has not adopted it, citing national security.

The Constitutional Court said it will finalize its discussion around conscientious objection by the end of January.

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