Korea (south)

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Thu

Jul

South Korea: Constitutional Court recognises conscientious objection

Submitted by antimili-youth on Thu, 05/07/2018 - 14:47

Last Thursday, in a landmark decision, South Korea’s Constitutional Court ordered the government to introduce alternative service of a civilian nature for conscientious objectors.

The court ruled that Article 5 of the Military Service Act (MSA), which fails to provide alternative forms of national service, is unconstitutional and obligated lawmakers to change the law by the end of 2019. Meanwhile, regrettably, the Court also ruled that Article 88 of the MSA , which provides up to 3 years of imprisonment for anyone who fails to enlist without justifiable grounds, does not violate the Constitution.

Sat

May

Take action to #freeKoreanCOs

Submitted by antimili-youth on Sat, 05/05/2018 - 20:21

Every year on 15th May we celebrate International Conscientious Objection Day.

This year War Resisters' International is focusing on South Korea, the country that imprisons more conscientious objectors than the rest of the world put together. Right now there's over 250 young people in jail, with 18 months sentences. But there's good news. Currently, there's no substitute service in South Korea, so if you don't want to go to the army, you go to jail. But the current President pledged to change this in his election manifesto, and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has voted repeatedly to recommend that the South Korean government institute an alternative service system. See a recent news story here: wri-irg.org/en/story/2017/south-korea-growing-hopes-conscientious-objectors

Fri

Jun

Recording of webinar: Educating for peace and conscientious objection in South Korea

Submitted by antimili-youth on Fri, 30/06/2017 - 16:14

On 25th May, War Resisters' International organised a webinar on conscientious objection, peace education and countering youth militarisation in South Korea. In the webinar, we had presentations from two Seoul-based peace campaigners: Hanui Choi, Coordinator and Peace Education Facilitator at PEACE MOMO, and Seungho Park, a conscientious objector and an activist from World without War.

Thu

May

Webinar: Countering youth militarisation in South Korea

Submitted by antimili-youth on Thu, 18/05/2017 - 16:00

War Resisters' International organises a webinar on conscientious objection, peace education and countering youth militarisation in South Korea. The webinar will be joined by two activists from South Korea, Hanui Choi and Seungho Park, who have been active in the field for many years. It is going to take place on 25th May, Thursday, at 12:00 (London), 13:00 (Berlin) and 20:00 (Seoul) (See here for your local time)

To register click here and to find more information see below.

Tue

Nov

South Korea: Activists Protesting Against Arms Expo

Submitted by antimili-youth on Tue, 01/11/2016 - 10:46

Activists in South Korea organised a direct action against the arms expo "DX Korea" sponsored by the Republic of Korea Army(ROKA).

DX Korea, organised for the second time this year, is similar to "Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (Seoul ADEX)" but smaller in size. The Expo included an academic seminar as well as demonstration of actual military equipment that ROKA mainly used.

South Korea: Activists Protesting Against Arms Expo

Tue

Oct

South Korea: Appeal court victory for conscientious objectors

Submitted by antimili-youth on Tue, 18/10/2016 - 14:45

Amnesty International

Appeal court judges in Gwangju, south-west Korea, overturned the guilty verdicts of two conscientious objectors, Cho Rak-hoon and Kim Hyung-geun. It is the first time an appeal court has reversed guilty verdicts in a conscientious objectors case.

“The appeal court has sent a clear message that conscientious objection is not a crime. The government needs to act on the ruling and stop punishing young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience,” said Hiroka Shoji, East Asia Researcher at Amnesty International.

“It is long overdue for South Korea to have an alternative to military service which respects freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

Tue

Apr

S. Korean conscientious objector finds new life in France

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 14/04/2015 - 15:21

By IZUMI SAKURAI/ Staff Writer

Lee Yea-da couldn't stomach the thought of mandatory military service. So he fled South Korea and sought asylum in France, an action that is almost unheard of in his country.

With few exceptions, South Korea requires all male citizens to take a physical examination at the age of 19 ahead of serving almost two years in the military.

The government deems compulsory military service necessary to counter the threat from North Korea.

Even though hundreds of men reject conscription for religious and other reasons each year, it is rare for a citizen to seek political asylum overseas.

Lee was granted asylum in 2013 by the French government.

As South Korea does not recognize the concept of conscientious objector, there is no alternative to military service other than serving a jail sentence.

Fri

Oct

World Without War

Fri

Mar

Quotes from WRI's Countering the Militarisation of Youth conference: Resistance

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 07/03/2014 - 14:33

I as Director of the Vocational Training Centre for former Child Soldiers implemented programmes for UNICEF including how to get children who were caught up in the war back into the mainstream of life – to get them back into school or vocational activities...Reduce or eliminate all sort of inequalities and violence will be reduced. If there is no violence, there would be no need for child soldiers... - Domino Frank Suleiman, Liberia

Fri

Mar

Quotes from WRI's Countering the Militarisation of Youth conference: Public discourse and Education

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 07/03/2014 - 14:22

Public discourse

They are constantly selling the idea that Venezuela is going to be invaded by the United States and in the face of this external threat...there is a permanent feeling of being on the verge of war or armed conflict...They always say that the United State wants Venezuela’s oil, however our president Chávez negotiated with transnational energy companies for 30 to 40 years. This means that that argument is invalid... - Rafael Uzcategui, Venezuela

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Languages

Countering Military Recruitment

WRI's new booklet, Countering Military Recruitment: Learning the lessons of counter-recruitment campaigns internationally, is out now. The booklet includes examples of campaigning against youth militarisation across different countries with the contribution of grassroot activists.

You can order a paperback version here.