The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism

  • 3

    Why Korean shoppers flock to Chinese e-commerce sites

  • 5

    Will Korea avoid hard landing in housing market?

  • 7

    'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea

  • 9

    Footballer Hwang's sister-in-law indicted for disclosing his private videos

  • 11

    '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation

  • 13

    CITYSCAPESDrone pilot explores Korea's hardest-to-reach places

  • 15

    K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades

  • 17

    Love and hope in Korea

  • 19

    LG Energy Solution wins battery module supply deal in Poland

  • 2

    Seoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residents

  • 4

    Israeli TV shows footage of stripped detainees in Gaza

  • 6

    INTERVIEWEx-NIS chief urges politicians to stop misusing spy agency

  • 8

    Seoul-Moscow ties likely stuck in limbo amid blame game

  • 10

    Hyundai Motor hires former US Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim as adviser

  • 12

    'Squid Game' director promises 'deeper story' with new characters, games for Season 2

  • 14

    Pro-labor 'yellow envelope bill' scrapped in revote after Yoon's veto

  • 16

    US defense policy bill calls for maintaining 28,500 US troops in Korea

  • 18

    Hanwha signs $2.4 bil. deal to export infantry fighting vehicles to Australia

  • 20

    NK urges people to follow leader Kim Jong-un in climbing Mount Paektu

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, December 10, 2023 | 16:25
Law & Crime
Constitutional petition filed against 'punitive' alternative military service law
Posted : 2021-01-27 13:44
Updated : 2021-01-27 13:44
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Gettyimagesbank
Gettyimagesbank

A conscientious objector, now carrying out his alternative military service as a prison staff member under the current law after refusing to enlist for religious reasons, has filed a constitutional appeal contending that the alternative military service law is unconstitutional due to its punitive nature, judicial officials said Wednesday.

By law, all able-bodied South Korean men must carry out military service for 18 to 22 months. But the National Assembly passed the Act on the Assignment and Performance of the Alternative Service in 2019, allowing conscientious objectors who refuse to take up arms for religious reasons to do 36 months of alternative service at local correctional facilities.

According to the officials, the conscientious objector, who began his alternative military service at a local prison last year, filed the petition with the Constitutional Court on Monday, saying that the alternative service act violates the freedom of conscience and the rights to happiness and equality.

In particular, the petitioner insisted that two clauses of the law, which require 36 months of in-camp service twice the active-duty service duration of 18 months, run counter to the Constitution, due to their punitive nature.

It is the first time that a constitutional petition has been filed in relation to the alternative service law.

The petitioner has been known as a believer of Jehovah's Witnesses, who was recognized by the Supreme Court as a conscientious objector last year.

Discussions on the alternative military service began after the Constitutional Court, while upholding the criminalization of conscientious objection, ruled in June 2018 that not allowing alternative measures for military service objectors does not conform to the Constitution.

Following the parliamentary passage of the alternative service law in December 2019, the first batch of 63 men began their assignments at local detention facilities, such as serving and cooking meals and supporting facility management, in October last year.

Conscientious objectors in South Korea have long drawn a heated debate as to whether their claims for the right to refuse to perform military service should be tolerated in a country where national security remains an important issue amid tension with North Korea. (Yonhap)


 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea 'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea
2Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president
3Kim Bu-gwi, the tallest monk at Hwaeom Temple Kim Bu-gwi, the tallest monk at Hwaeom Temple
4Cadero Grip introduces hybrid golf grip product Cadero Grip introduces hybrid golf grip product
5German scholar lectures on 'Saving Confucius from Confucianism'German scholar lectures on 'Saving Confucius from Confucianism'
6N. Korea's fear over external info grows after Seoul's propaganda leaflets decisionN. Korea's fear over external info grows after Seoul's propaganda leaflets decision
7Hana Bank hosts foreign exchange quiz for employees Hana Bank hosts foreign exchange quiz for employees
8Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s
9Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization
10Doubts grow over shareholder activism on Samsung C&T Doubts grow over shareholder activism on Samsung C&T
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert
2'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve 'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve
3Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world
4'12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation
5K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group