Soldier jailed for gay sex

A South Korean military court on Wednesday sentenced a captain to six months in jail for having same-sex intercourse with another soldier, amid accusations that the army is cracking down on gay personnel.

The captain, whose name was not given, was convicted of breaking a clause in South Korea’s military law banning homosexual activity by army personnel, the military said, adding it would continue to “handle disorderly conduct according to law.”

He was sentenced to six months in prison, plus a suspended sentence of one year.

Homosexual acts are not a crime for civilians in South Korea, but it remains a conservative and patriarchal society and does not recognise same-sex marriage.

New President Moon Jae-In, elected earlier this month, is a former human rights lawyer and seen as a liberal, but came under fire from activists after saying in a televised debate that he did not like homosexuality.

Rights groups say that at least 32 soldiers face criminal punishment for similar actions.

“The captain was charged for having consensual sexual intercourse with his partner in a private space,” said Kim HyungNam of the Military Human Rights Centre campaign group.