Debate over plan for objectors to substitute military service

SEOUL: South Koreans yesterday fiercely debated a government plan to allow conscientious objectors to work in prisons instead of mandatory military duty in a country still technically at war with North Korea.

South Korea is one the few countries in the world that has compulsory conscription for all able-bodied men.

But there are growing challenges for military service as tensions have eased between the Koreas and the male birth rate falls in the South.

After a Constitutional Court ruling in June said conscientious objectors need an alternative to military service, the defence ministry explored allowing them to live and work in correctional facilities for three years.

Kim Soo-jung, a lawyer who has defended several objectors, said a three-year work term in prison failed to take advantage of the varied talents of objectors. “There are doctors among the objectors and these people have all kinds of different capabilities,” Kim said.

One woman who has a son serving in the military drew applause and cheers when she asked why objectors should have options that were not available to regular draftees. Lee Nam-woo, deputy defence minister for personnel, welfare, health and mobilisation, said the ministry will make a decision after considering various opinions. – AFP