The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, May 26, 2022 | 16:38
Defense
Alternative Military Services Planned
Posted : 2007-09-18 17:21
Updated : 2007-09-18 17:21
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Conscientious Objectors to Get Non-Armed Services for 36 Months

By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter

The government decided Tuesday to allow conscientious objectors against mandatory military service to conduct alternative services such as caring for the disabled, instead of imprisoning them.

The alternate service term will be 36 months compared to the 24 months of military service, which will be shortened to 18 months in 2014.

The Ministry of National Defense said an average of 750 people annually are prosecuted because they object to performing military service for conscientious or religions reasons. They will be eligible to undertake alternative services to respect their human rights.

The current laws requires all healthy men to fulfill mandatory military service for 24, 26 or 27 months in the Army, Navy or Air Force, respectively.

``The plan is designed to give other options to conscientious objectors other than incurring criminal punishment,'' it said.

The ministry plans to make the social service come under strict labor conditions and impose a longer term for the objectors in order to secure fairness in the alternative conscription system.
``The areas for alternative services are ones requiring very demanding work such as assisting the handicapped or patients with Alzheimer's disease,'' it said.

However, active servicemen will not be allowed to cease military service and join the alternative service. Only those who declare their objection to military service before commencing training are entitled to apply for the option.

Alternative servicemen will work in such remote areas as Sorokdo National Hospital, a facility to treat Hansen's disease on Sorok Island, South Jeolla Province; the Masan National Tuberculosis Hospital in South Gyeongsang Province; and hundreds of nursing homes for the elderly.

Those opting for social welfare will be under the close scrutiny of the Military Manpower Administration. Anyone neglecting the service will be dismissed and face criminal charges

Meanwhile, some conservatives expressed their opposition to the alternate services.

The Korea Veterans Association said in a statement that the decision shakes the conscription system, causing unfairness to so many people serving in the military.

``It is premature to introduce the service as the two Koreas are technically still at war,'' the association said.

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr
 
  • Gunman kills 18 children at Texas elementary school
  • Over 76% of Koreans support legalizing euthanasia
  • Korea to allow visa waiver at Yangyang airport for int'l travelers from 4 countries
  • Will government establish new immigration agency?
  • North Korea launches missiles to test Seoul-Washington deterrence
  • N. Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles, including 1 suspected ICBM: JCS
  • [INTERVIEW] Defender of inter-country adoptees' rights
  • Japan's unwelcome move
  • Auditing firms compete to secure rookie accountants
  • US forces anger animal rights group for brutally executing stray cats with air gun
  • 'The Witch: Part 2' director still has more story to tell 'The Witch: Part 2' director still has more story to tell
  • Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense' Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense'
  • Tim Burton's iconic world of misunderstood misfits returns to Korea Tim Burton's iconic world of misunderstood misfits returns to Korea
  • Park Chan-wook returns to Cannes with romance 'Decision to Leave' Park Chan-wook returns to Cannes with romance 'Decision to Leave'
  • BLACKPINK on cover of Rolling Stone BLACKPINK on cover of Rolling Stone
DARKROOM
  • 75th Cannes Film Festival

    75th Cannes Film Festival

  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

The Korea Times
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
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group