PHOTOS Jailed conscientious objectors freed after landmark ruling
Conscientious objectors celebrate their release outside a prison in Daegu, Friday. Yonhap
Most conscientious objectors imprisoned for refusing military service were released on parole Friday, following the Supreme Court's recent not-guilty verdict.?
The Ministry of Justice said that 58 inmates convicted for refusing to serve in the military, due to religious beliefs and reasons of conscience, were released from prisons and detention centers nationwide. The release reduced the number of such objectors serving jail terms to 13, it said.
The 58 people have spent more than six months in prison, the ministry said, adding that five other imprisoned conscientious objectors found unfit for parole in the ministry's screening won't be released this time.
A released conscientious objector holds out his hand to his family waiting for him outside the Daegu prison, Friday.
A total of 58 conscientious objectors were released on parole, while 13 who have not yet met minimum requirements for it are still behind bars.
The release came after the Supreme Court on Nov. 1 acquitted a man indicted for refusing conscription on the grounds of religious faith.
The released conscientious objectors will engage in various social services. Yonhap
A 26-year-old man, who wants to be identified only by his surname, Kim, told reporters before leaving the Uijeongbu Prison, north of Seoul, that he will now seek to change negative public sentiment toward conscientious objectors.
"I sufficiently understand the critical views toward conscientious objectors' refusal to serve in the military, particularly because Korean men have a military service mandate. I'll faithfully carry out alternative or social service to positively change the public criticism," said Kim.
The parole has come after the Constitutional Court ordered alternative service for conscientious objectors in June and the Supreme Court on Nov. 1 acquitted a man indicted for refusing conscription on the grounds of religious faith.
Until the landmark rulings, religious and conscientious objectors were usually sentenced to one year and six months in prison and most were paroled after serving a year and two to three months.
"The authorities thoroughly examined investigation records and other documents of the imprisoned conscientious objectors before deciding on their parole," a ministry official said.
The released conscientious objectors will engage in various social services for a certain period, the official said. (Yonhap)