By Lee Ji-hye
Three Jehovah's Witnesses have been found not guilty of refusing conscription.
Judge Choi Chang-suk of Gwangju District Court, on Tuesday ruled in favor of the three men who were charged with violating the Military Service Act.
The three stated that they had refused to serve in the Korean military because their religion forbids believers to hold guns.
"The law needs to be harmoniously interpreted between the freedom of conscience that is guaranteed within the constitution, and the responsibility of national security," the judge’s verdict said.
"Should there be a collision between the constitutional values and the basic rights and responsibilities for every citizen ㅡ that's when a well-balanced interpretation needs to support these rights."
Judge Choi said there was a larger meaning to "national security" that could be expanded beyond simply wartime combatants, to police duties, preventing disasters, relief operations, public service, and social welfare.
"The constitutional value of requiring all men to serve for the national security can still be upheld while respecting the liberty of one's conscience of refusing to serve in the military," Judge Choi said.
The ruling in favor of conscientious objectors is the first in eight years and the third in the nation.
In response to the verdict, the Jehovah's Witness community said: "The Korean government should follow the United Nations Human Rights Committee's agreement made in 2007 and that the government has violated the agreement by continuously punishing conscientious objectors."
According to the group, more than 18,357 men have been jailed in the past 60 years for refusing the draft. It said the government needed to “listen to the voices from within the nation and the world as well."