국방부, 대체복무제 36개월 교정시설로 확정
All able-bodied men are required to serve in the military as part of the nation's conscription system.
Conscientious objectors or those who refuse to pick up arms due to religious beliefs were given the same treatment as draft dodgers.
But that's about to change.
Alternative option is finally decided for such groups.
gets us up to speed with the developments.
After months of research, discussions and public hearings,... South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has finalized its bill on alternative options for conscientious objectors,... who refuse the nation's mandatory military service.
According to the defense ministry on Friday,... conscientious objectors are to serve at correctional facilities like prisons,... for 36 months,.. starting from 2020,... assuming the responsibilities for culinary affairs and commodity management.
The move comes,... as the Constitutional Court ruled in June this year,... that it is unconstitutional that the current military service act does not provide alternative ways for conscientious objectors to serve,... and ordered a revision of the law by the end of 2019.
"The defense ministry aims to draw up a reasonable alternative service that balances the obligation to serve in the military and the freedom of conscience, under the principle of maintaining the fairness of compulsory military service and not allowing any deviations,... and also respecting international norms within the scope that they do not harm the nation's defense posture."
About five to six hundred men each year in South Korea refuse the nation's mandatory military service for conscientious reasons.
Thus, under the bill,... six hundred people per year will be granted alternative options.
The defense ministry also says,... according to a survey conducted earlier this month on two thousand people, a thousand from the general public and a thousand active-duty soldiers,.. over 42 percent of the general public,... and over 76 percent of active-duty soldiers agreed that 36 months is the most appropriate length of service for the alternative option for conscientious objectors.
The ministry added that,... the bill... contains the room for flexible changes in the future,... when it comes to the alternative service period and alternative service areas.
The bill is scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly,... early next year.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.
