Conscientious Objection in Korea

South Korea: UN Human Rights Committee rules on eleven more cases

2010-05-09T22:18:00.001-07:00

On 14 April 2010, the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations ruled on 11 more cases of conscientious objectors, which had been submitted on 15 May 2007, following the first ground-breaking ruling of the Human Rights Committee from November 2006 (see CO-Update No 27, February 2007). In line with its earlier decision, the Human Rights Committee came to the following conclusion:
"7.4 The Committee notes that the authors' refusal to be drafted for compulsory militaryservice was a direct expression of their religious beliefs which, it is uncontested, were genuinely held and that the authors’ subsequent conviction and sentence amounted to an infringement of their freedom of conscience and a restriction on their ability to manifest their religion or belief. The Committee finds that as the State party has not demonstrated that in the present cases the restrictions in question were necessary, within the meaning of article 18, paragraph 3, it has violated article 18, paragraph 1, of the Covenant.
8. The Human Rights Committee, acting under article 5, paragraph 4, of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, concludes that the facts before the Committee reveal, in respect of each author, violations by the Republic of Korea of article 18, paragraph 1 of the Covenant."

The Committee also pointed out that the South Korean state is "under an obligation to provide the authors with an effective remedy, including compensation. The State party is under an obligation to avoid similar violations of the Covenant in the future."

Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection (KSCO) informed War Resisters' International that a decision on a further 488 cases from South Korea is still pending. She also said that the conscientious objectors intend to sue the South Korean government for compensation.
The Human Rights Committee "wishes to receive from the State party, within 180 days, information about the measures taken to give effect to the Committee's Views."

Sources: Human Rights Committee: Communications Nos. 1593 to 1603/2007, CCPR/C/98/D/1593-1603/2007, 14 April 2010; Email Jungmin Choi, 3 May 2010

Brothers Discuss Conscription

2009-10-18T03:48:00.000-07:00

An interview with two inebriated brothers who share their opinions on Korean hierarchical society, their apprehensions about forced conscription, and their conflicted conviction on the need for a military.

North Korean Refugee speaks about Conscription

2009-10-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

An interview with a North Korean refugee who settled in South Korea. North Koreans who became naturalized in the South were not allowed to join the military, giving him a unique perspective on South Korea's mandatory military service.

http://www.youtube.com/user/COinSouthKorea

South Korea: Judge petitions Constitutional Court on conscientious objection

2009-10-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

from 06 Oct 2009 — warresisters

A South Korean judge again filed a petition with the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the country's Military Service Act in the case of a conscientious objector who refused military service, JoongAng Daily reported on 10 September 2009. The judge claims that clause 1 of article 88 of the Military Service Act - "If a person who has received a draft notice for active duty or Notice of Summons (including Notice of Summons for voluntary enlistment), without justifiable cause, does not report for service within the period specified in the following clauses or refuses the summons, then he shall be sentenced to a prison term of three years or less." - conflicts with Article 19 of the South Korean constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. “The clause in the military service act is unconstitutional by excessively violating freedom of conscience by forcing conscientious objectors to do their military duty and then punishing them,” the judge said.

“Legislators are responsible for creating alternatives to resolve the conflict,” Judge Park said, arguing that punishing conscientious objectors without providing any alternative forms of national service violates the principle that infringements upon basic rights must be minimised.
The country's Constitutional Court last dealt with the question of conscientious objection in 2001.

While the Court ruled back then that clause 1 of article 88 of the Military Service Act is constitutional, it also made some recommendations to the legislator: "The legislator has the duty to relieve the conflict in conscience by providing, to the extent that freedom of conscience specified in Article 19 of the Constitution does not damage public interests or legal order, alternative plans such as other possible options that can take the place of the legal duty or case-by-case exemptions from the legal duty, and if he can not provide such options, then he should at least consider if mitigation or exemption in punishments and penalties imposed for violating the duty can be permitted in order to protect the freedom of conscience.
Therefore, the legislator should earnestly consider whether there is a plan that can relieve the conflict between freedom of conscience and the public interest of national security and make the two interests coexist in harmony, whether there is an alternative plan that can protect the conscience of objectors to military service while preserving the public interest of national security, and whether our society has matured to the point where it can now show understanding and tolerance toward conscientious objectors, and even if the legislator decides, upon further review, to not adopt a system of alternative service, it should be considered whether the legislature would move in a direction to help protect conscience by having organizations that apply the law act in a manner that is legally more friendly to conscience."

Since then, the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations has decided on two individual complaints from South Korea. In its decision on Yeo-Bum Yoon and Mr. Myung-Jin Choi vs. Republik of Korea, the Human Rights Committee came to the conclusion that not to provide for conscientious objection is a violation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Since then, the former South Korean government had originally announced in September 2007 to introduce the right to conscientious objection. However, the present government backtracked on this promise, citing opinion polls as an excuse.

Presently, almost 500 individual complaints of conscientious objectors are pending at the Human Rights Committee. These, plus the new petition to the Constitutional Court, might increase pressure on the South Korean government to finally comply with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to recognise the right to conscientious objection.

Sources: JoongAng Daily: Draft dodger reignites row over military duty, 10 September 2009; War Resisters' International: Country report and updates: Korea, South, 23 March 2009; War Resisters' International: South Korea: Constitutional Court decides against right to conscientious objection, CO-Update No 1, September 2004; Constitutional Court of Korea: Decision of the Constitutional Court of Korea on Conscientious Objection, 26 August 2004; War Resisters' International: Landmark decision of UN Human Rights Committee on right to conscientious objection, CO-Update No 27, February 2007; Human Rights Committee: Communications Nos. 1321/2004 and 1322/2004 : Republic of Korea. 23/01/2007. CCPR/C/88/D/1321-1322/2004. (Jurisprudence); War Resisters' International: South Korea to legalise conscientious objection, CO-Update No 33, October 2007; War Resisters' International: South Korea: No rights for conscientious objectors, CO-Update No 44, January 2009

Published in CO-Update, October 2009, No. 51

Jungmin Oh's Declaration of Conscientious Objection

2009-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

The armed Forces are War-Making Machines

Declaration of conscientious objection - Jungmin Oh

Jungmin Oh. Photo : World Without war

originally published 09 Apr 2009 — war resisters international

To be liberated or to be incarcerated? It is an unavoidably acute question. The world we live in, at the global level, is constantly at war. Not surprisingly, as of the beginning of January 2009, we can see the war currently continuing in Gaza. The 20th century is remembered as an age of wars and presumably so will be the 21st. The US government started the 'war on terror' against Iraq after the 11 September attacks. The Iraq war was nothing but another dreadful war. Not only were the nation state of Iraq and the terrorists deemed to be enemies of the US, but the US clearly declared this was a war against evil. Clarifying who is evil requires great care. Nonetheless, we have observed that any person or group, especially anti-war groups and Muslims, can be regarded as 'evil'. The fact that the concept of 'evil' is too abstract to be defined may lead to a situation where, at one time or another, citizens of a country as well as people outside it are considered to be enemies. An enemy can now exist anywhere regardless of the borders among nation states. When we ourselves at any time can be labelled as an enemy, it can possibly be said that at that moment we live in the age of wars.
The South Korean government have been taking part in the war in Iraq. In 2003, it decided to send troops there despite the lack of proof that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Despite the daily demonstration against this decision, and the kidnapping and beheading by Iraqi militants of a South Korean, Kim Sun-il, the government didn't cancel the deployment plan. Instead, it introduced an Anti-Terrorism Act, based on their view that the people are potential terrorists. This was exactly the same as what happened in the US.
I was among the crowd protesting against the war in Iraq and the deployment of Korean troops. Despite our efforts, South Korean troops were sent. In the end, it was revealed that Iraq didn't have any weapons of mass destruction, which meant the US government was wrong. Notwithstanding, the South Korean government and the people who supported the government's decision neither apologised for their lie nor took any responsibility for the result - an absolutely intolerable reaction.
I believe the armed forces are simply just one of national institutions whose reason for existence is to prepare for wars. The armed forces always prepare for a war, even when there is no war. Hence, the military is by no means 'an organisation which prevents a war'. In fact, it is an organisation that makes war. I do not find any reason for which I ought to do my military service in this kind of armed force. Refusing to be called up follows ineluctably from my determination to liberate myself instead of living imprisoned as a human being living in a so-called 'the age of war'.

A War is Incompatible with Democracy

War cannot be compatible with democracy. Rather, war is a retreat from democracy. Article 5 of the South Korean constitution states that 'the Republic of Korea endeavours to maintain international peace and renounces all aggressive wars'. Accordingly, the South Korean government's has breached the constitution in sending troops to Vietnam and Iraq, wars that we avoidable and aggressive, not in self-defence. The US government presented the war on Iraq as 'preventive war'. If this invasion was not an aggressive war, which war can be considered aggressive? The South Korean government have definitely been infringing democracy by breaking the constitution. Not only will respect for the constitution be restored, but also there will be no democracy until the government stop doing such iniquitous things. I have decided, in a desperate resort to defend our democracy, not to do military service on behalf of the government which neither apologise for the result caused by their participation of the aggressive wars nor take any responsibility for that.

Democracy is constituent power

Democracy in Korea was again set back in July and August 2004. The Korean Supreme Court, on 15 July 2004, found conscientious objectors guilty, while the South Korean Constitutional Court, on 26 August 2004, rejected a constitutional challenge to article 88 of the Military Service Act. I am against these nationalistic decisions which state that the 'duty of national defence' is more important than 'individual's freedom of conscience'. As long as such decisions continue to be made, the right to freedom will remain infringed by nationalistic reasoning. Underlying a written constitution is the practice of the people. Article 1, Section 2 of the South Korean constitution states that 'the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea resides in the people, and all state authority emanates from the people'. This means the source of power to establish a constitution, constituent power, originates from the people. A constitutional code is temporary: it can be amended by constituent power whenever needed. A duty of national defence and a nation itself cannot exist unless a member of a nation exists. Therefore, it is the people's will, not nation's one, which should be respected. This is what I think democracy is.
This is the reason for my objection to military service. I feel guilt towards my parents. This pain may be the same as what other conscientious objectors, their family, lovers, friends and their supporters have gone through up until now. I would really like to apologise to my parents for my decision to object military service while I also would like to console other conscientious objectors. I hope the step we take today will lead to another pleasurable step on our way to democracy.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2009,
uGonG

May 15th 2009 International Conscientious Objector's Day and War Resisters International Conference

2009-04-14T02:21:00.000-07:00

May 15th 2009 International Conscientious Objector's Day

War Resisters International has an annual conference. This year's conferencen will take place in Seoul and focus on the situation of Conscientious Objection in South Korea.

Non-violence training: May 10-14th at Ilsan Han River Methodist Church
Participation fee: 40,000 won (10,000 won for one event)

Direct Action: May 15th Somewhere in downtown Seoul

Members of the non-violence training workshops will decide on the direct action together.

International Conference: May 15th 1pm Conscientious Objectors and Peace Activists from Greece, Macedonia, USA, Eritrea, Israel will share their experiences and particular circumstances.

Peace Concert: May 16th 7pm
A Variety of Cultural Events including a Fashion show, Performance, Story Garden, Video, etc...

02-6401-0514
To register for the event, send an e-mail to 2009coday@hanmail.net
For more detailed information see our website at http://www.corights.net/2009coday

Eun-guk's Declaration of Conscientious Objection

2009-03-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

All South Korean male citizens are conscripted to perform military service for 2 years. While most people reluctantly succumb to the extreme state and social pressure to serve, a small but increasingly vocal number of individuals are choosing go to prison instead of joining the military. For adhering to their principles, they are punished with a prison sentence of a year and a half, a permanent criminal record, and social stigma. There is currently no alternative option given to those who object to serving in the military.

There are 450 objectors now in prison. Their reasons for objection are varied. While the majority of them have religious reasons (mostly Jehovah's witnesses) others have political or moral beliefs and are active in the peace movement that has been growing during the last several years in Korea.

Eun-gook (Eun-guk/은국), a traditional Korean medicine doctor, is one peace activist who declared his objection last February. His declaration was made during a press conference in Seoul on the day he was supposed to enlist.

In March 2003, Eun-guk was involved in one of the anti-war peace activist groups in Iraq where the United States proclaimed war and the Korean government decided to dispatch Korean soldiers. Since then, Eun-gook kept thinking about objecting to his conscription for the last 6 years.

Riot Police Turned CO

2009-01-30T04:30:00.000-08:00

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a conscripted young man who objected to military service based on his conscience on 27 July 2008, received an order four times to join in order to disperse protestors, which he has refused. Based on this fact, the prosecutor who pleaded for an arrest warrant with detention, which was earlier dismissed, has again pleaded for it and the detention of the young man has been decided.

CASE DETAILS:

Mr. Lee Gil-jun, 24 years old, held a press conference at 7pm on 27 July 2008 and declared that he objected serving as an auxiliary police - a type of duty of national defense. He received a special holiday for three days due to his duty to suppress people taking part in the candlelit rallies.

He claims in his statement that he received orders from his commander to hit protestors with the shield and batons, in order to disperse them during recent ongoing protest. He had to return to Jung Lang Police Station, Seoul at 8pm on July 25 but instead he held a sit-in protest. On July 31, he voluntarily returned to the police station with thoughts that even though he violated the current law he had made this decision from his conscience.

When the prosecutor's office pleaded for an arrest warrant with detention, charging him with not returning to the police on time and for defamation, a court decided not to issue an arrest warrant without detention based on the fact that there is no worry of him running away or destruction of evidence. After the court decision, he was forced to return to the police station on August 2.

Then at the police station, knowing Mr. Lee objected military service based on his conscious, his commander ordered him to join with his colleagues to disperse people holding assemblies. The commander asked him to follow the order in a serious tone four times but Mr. Lee repeatedly refused the order. Based on this fact the prosecutor once again pleaded for an arrest warrant with detention from a court on August 5, after adding one more charge of his disobeying order.

On August 8, the court issued an arrest warrant with detention saying that Mr. Lee has refused to follow the order from his commander and there is a concern of repetition of the offence. It also added that there is also concern on his running away in the light of his repetition of disobeying an order.

Unofficial translated version

[Declaration of Conscience] I Resist!

July 27th 2008 / Lee Gil-jun

I, a conscripted policeman on active service, declare a conscientious objection to the military, and refuse to rejoin my unit. It was definitely not an easy decision. It was difficult for me to imagine all the pain and suffering it would bring, especially what my parents would have to go through. But here I am, still screaming resistance. It all sounds quite serious. But I'm not doing this to serve a greater cause. I'm just going through a process of finding myself, and trying to have a voice in my own life.

Yes. Resistance, to me, is a way to lead my life with my own subjectivity. Listening to your inner voice, having the values you believe to be right, adding colors to enrich your life and co-existing with others in harmony are all things that would be meaningful to just about anyone. And in the process, if something should suppress your life, you face it and resist it. That, I believe, is the way to live your life with passion. So now, I shed my old self, the one who has adapted to the ways of suppression, and move on to find myself through resistance.

This past February, I enrolled in the army as a conscripted policeman. I understand the many criticisms about this decision, especially regarding the actions I'm taking now. Although I oppose the idea of compulsory military service, if I had to serve my own society, I wanted to do something that is truly meaningful to society and myself. After giving it much thought, the path I chose was to join the conscripted police. But it turned out to be far different from what I had expected. Some people might criticize me and say I'm not being responsible for my own decision, but I don't think that takes away my right to object to unjust orders.

(full version)

15 May 2009: International Conscientious Objection Day - Focus on South Korea

2008-12-31T23:33:00.000-08:00

15 May 2009: International Conscientious Objection Day - Focus on South Korea

17 Dec 2008 — warresisters

Introduction

Since the 1980s, 15 May is celebrated as International Conscientious
Objectors' Day [1]. Originally coordinated by the International Conscientious Objectors' Meeting (ICOM), War Resisters' International stepped in to coordinate and promote International Conscientious Objectors' Day since ICOM ceased to meet ever since ICOM 1995 in Chad. As part of WRI's programme on The Right to Refuse to Kill [2], War Resisters' International helped to established a tradition of international nonviolent direct action on 15 May in support of a
certain CO struggle, accompanied by decentralised activities all over the world since 2002. Focus countries or region of the last years were the Balkans in 2002 [3], Israel in 2003 [4], Chile/Latin America in 2004 [5], Greece in 2005 [6], the United States of America in 2006 [7], Colombia in 2007 [8], and the theme of CO and professional soldiers in 2008 [9].
For 2009, War Resisters' International and Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection agreed to make the situation in South Korea the focus for international activities.

Why South Korea?

Since its foundation in 2001, the South Korean movement for conscientious objection has seen some successes, but has not yet achieved the recognition of the right to conscientious objection. Some of the major successes of the South Korean CO movement were:

a reduction of the usual prison term for conscientious objectors from 3 years to 18 months;
a decision of the United Nations' Human Rights Committee on two cases of COs from South Korea, declaring the non-recognition of the right to conscientious objection a violation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion (Article 18 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) [10]
a recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission of South
Korea to recognise the right to conscientious objection [11]
an announcement of the Minister of Defence to recognise the right to conscientious objection (September 2007) [12]

However, with the change of government in January 2008 the announcement of the
Minister of Defence to recognise the right to conscientious objection is no longer valid. Presently, the South Korean government is employing a delaying tactic [13], and it will require more pressure on the government to achieve progress regarding the right to conscientious objection.

Presently, more than 420 conscientious objectors are in South Korean for their conscientious objection to military service. About 100 conscientious objectors are facing trials without being detained. It has to be expected that most will receive a prison sentence of 18 months.

While the majority of conscientious objectors are Jehovah's Witnesses, there is also a non-religious movement of conscientious objectors, organised and supported by Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection. Four non-religious conscientious objectors are presently
serving prison sentences [14]

Objectives

Raising international awareness for the situation of conscientious objectors in South Korea, who routinely face 18 months imprisonment.
Linking the issue of conscientious objection in South Korea with nonviolent resistance and nonviolent direct action as a tool for social change movements.
Exchange of experience in nonviolent direct action and campaigning for the right to conscientious objection among groups from South Korea and abroad.
Strengthening international networking of conscientious objectors through joint training and action.

Planned activities

While the planned activities focus on International Conscientious Objection Day - 15 May 2009 - and the period immediately before 15 May, these activities do not stand alone. In fact, War Resisters' International and Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection have a cooperation going back to 2000 and before (see below). International Nonviolence Training and action, Seoul, 10-15 May 2009 Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters' International jointly organise an international training in nonviolent action, in Seoul, as the centre piece of the activities for 15 May 2009.

The international training in nonviolent action will bring together 40-50 participants from South Korea and other parts of the world, who will jointly use the training to share practical tools for nonviolent action. The training will also prepare for a joint nonviolent action on 15 May - International Conscientious Objectors' Day - in Seoul.

The training will be facilitated by a training team from KSCO and WRI, and will cover topics such as the development of nonviolent campaigns, preparing for action, dealing with police, decision making in campaigning groups and during an action, and others.

The experience of War Resisters' International in previous years has shown that a joint training is a good way to increase the understanding of each others contexts and political experiences, and contributes to the development of an international network of conscientious objectors.

International Conference on Conscientious Objection, 16 May 2009

The international activities will culminate with an international conference on conscientious objection in Seoul on Saturday, 16 May 2009. This international conference aims to share the experience of conscientious objection movement from different parts of the world
with a broader audience in Seoul, and to attract media attention. It will contribute to strengthening the case for the right to conscientious objection in South Korea.

Setback for Non-military Service

2008-12-31T22:34:00.000-08:00

South Korea rethinks alternative to conscription

24 Dec 2008 — warresisters

Euronews24, 24 December 2008

SEOUL Reuters – South Korea's military indicated on Wednesday it would hold off on a plan for alternative service for conscientious objectors to the armed forces who are now jailed if they refuse conscription.

Military service of about two years is mandatory for all able-bodied South Korean men in order to field a fighting force strong enough to prevent North Korea's 1.2 million-strong army from attacking. The United States stations about 28,000 troops in the South to support its military.

South Korea' Defense Ministry released a survey on Wednesday saying that nearly 70 percent of the public was opposed to allowing alternative service. It has said the poll results would weigh heavily on its policy decision.

"We can understand it is still too early to allow alternative forms of military service for conscientious objectors," spokesman Won Tae-jae told a news briefing. The ministry had not yet made a final decision, he added.

The Defense Ministry has floated the idea over the past few years of allowing conscientious objectors to perform community service or a non-combat military related jobs.

But conservative and veterans groups have objected, saying it would encourage draft dodging and weaken the country's ability to deter North Korea, which on Tuesday repeated a threat to reduce the South to ashes.

About 300,000 men are conscripted each year into the South's military or riot police. But around 750 men annually refuse to join on moral grounds, often because they are pacifists.

They typically receive prison sentences of about two years. Criminal records make it difficult for objectors to find good jobs and the issue of army service is often raised by potential employers during job interviews.

Service starts at the age of 19, although recruits can defer for a few years depending on their family situation or study plans. For almost all young men, military service interrupts their studies at university or the start of their careers.

Reporting by Jon Herskovitz and Kim Junghyun; Editing by Nick Macfie

Mainstream article about We-suck

2008-11-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

My Meeting with Kang We-suck

a translation of ‘박태환 군대’ 발언 강의석 만나보니

by Choe Hyeon-jeong, phoebe@donga.com

first published on www.donga.com

(translation by Jeff Lazar)

original article in korean 원본 기사

“Park Tae-hwan is a national hero. I wrote the letter recognizing that just by using his name, it would get many people interested in the issue of the military", said Kang We-seok. Kang, a 22 year-old Seoul National University Law School student, became wrapped in controversy ever since publishing an article addressed to the recent olympic gold medalist titled "Tae-hwan, you too go to the military."

I met Kang on the 9th of September. As a highschool student, Kang, in the name of religious freedom in school, conducted a one man protest. After entering Seoul University Law school he immersed himself in boxing, worked as a taxi driver, a host bar worker, and has, in speaking about the military stirred up much criticism.

During a boxing training session, We-seok suffered a head injury which lead to his being judged eligible for alternative (non-military) public service. I couldn't understand why someone who received this civil service duty would struggle so fervently to oppose military conscription.

"Because of my head injury and my 4th level judgement (exemption from military service), it would be easy for me, compared to others, to serve my obligatory duty. Nonetheless, I didn't want to participate in a job that supports the overall system. As a matter of fact, I think that many people, including women and the physically handicap, not just those who perform a civil service duty, have something to say about the military."

What We-suck is advocating is not for conscientious objection, nor for an alternative civil service, but rather for the abolishment of the military.

But if that is the case, who would protect us? Particularly a divided nation in a state of cease fire like ourselves?

"If everyone put down their weapons, word peace would be possible. Eastern Europe collapsed and the world has changed. Is North Korea really going to invade us? Those of us who don't believe this can't just be labeled communists anymore. If we demilitarize then our opponents will but down their weapons as well. If we put down our weapons and North Korea does invade, the world will not just sit by quietly and watch it happen."

I later asked again if this was not just the childish acts of someone trying to get attention. He responded stating that, following the prosperity of Costa Rica, a small neutral country that has abolished it's military, we could use the expenditures that currently go to the military and distribute them elsewhere to increase the quality of life for our country. I explained how, as an international tool, possessing a military is a method for peace.

We-suck's letter to Tae-hwan has provoked a hostile backlash nationwide. 10,000 people view his personal page daily and for several consecutive days his name has been at the top of the search lists. An article entitled "The truth about Kang We-suck" has been posted in hundreds of spots around the internet provoking individual criticisms.

"People can laugh at me and my flaws all they want, but I want to clarify some misunderstandings. People have posted writings about my sexual experience with my girlfriend. Why would they do something like that? I got my scholarship in highschool from getting top test scores, not from attending church diligently. I started boxing since highschool, and not with the intention of getting an exemption from the military. People also talk about the time I experienced heart-break and took a leave from school. When I was a freshman in college I had a girlfriend who I really liked, and it seemed to me that she really liked me as well. I proposed to her publically in our classroom and I was rejected. It was a blow for me, but I guess she must have found someone else that made her happy. That time when I took of from my studies seemed more like a psychological wandering than a vacation from school. There were prostitutes in the neighborhood where I lived. In the morning as I saw them leaving work, I thought about good my life was, and how they must not be satisfied with the work that they are doing. I suddenly stopped in my place, and I reflected on my life."

I asked him if he was confident he could overcome the critical public opinion over the military issue.

"I may look like a floating cloud, but I'm working hard. Since writing the article I've received many phone calls from supporters. We are cheerful that we have hope to change the world. Don't just criticize. It would be great if we could unite our power and work together. I and a group of around 20 people are in the middle of preparing a 100 man 'Campaign to go to jail" as objectors to the military and an anti military nude parade for Armed Forces Day."

In addition, they are shooting a documentary advocating the abolishment of the military. Many people feel that a nude parade would be too provocative. He could get punished for conducting a lewd performance.

"Why do people think that a nude demonstration would be vulgar? Probably because of the negative sentiment about things like flashers on school campuses. Ill intentioned flashers do inflict sexual shame, but an unarmed human body in and of itself is beautiful and a symbol of peace. If the police arrest us for public lewdness, what can I do? We want to express peace with our beautiful bodies."

He explained that due to many conflicts with his parents over the military issues he left home and now lives alone. His last birthday was the first time he'd spoken with his mother in around two months.

"Choosing to go to jail instead of the military is really a sad story. My mother cried a lot. There was conflict between us. People call it idealistic, but ideals are not bad things. I really do plan on going to prison, but since it's not the fate I want, I will work that much harder to change the system."

This man who I had come to interview seemed to me more naively innocent than worldly. He smacked of an excessive idealism remote from reality. Kang We-suck, as a University student, was in the process of arraigning his own thoughts and communication with the world. His idealism is being criticized in society. There is a lot of talk about the negative influence his speech is having. However, I finished the interview wishing that he gets more constructive and positive influence through his continued contemplation about reality and ideology.

News Reports from the Armed Forces Day nude protest

2008-10-06T00:51:00.000-07:00

(source of the pics: Yonhap)

these came from CINA, a frequently updated blog that focuses on progressive social movements in South Korea.

Activist Detained for Streaking at Military Parade (K. Times, 10.01)

Social activist Kang We-suck (강의석) was detained by police Wednesday for running naked into the 60th Armed Forces Day anniversary parade. Kang ran into the middle of the procession in Samseong-dong, one of the richest areas in Korea, holding a gun-shaped cookie, which he blew on before eating it.

His demonstration halted the parade for about a minute before he was taken away to Suseo Police Station.

In an interview with The Korea Times a day earlier, Kang said his acts were designed to promote pacifism and highlight the necessity of abolishing the military draft.

"Being nude is a symbol of peace and disarmament. It represents being actively involved in a nonviolent movement for peace. The distribution of gun-shaped cookies implies that a world without arms is sweet and peace is delicious,'' he said.

"It would only cost $1.5 trillion to solve worldwide poverty and cure all diseases. We are spending over $1.7 trillion in Korea for our military budget. It caused the killing of innocent citizens in Geochang, Gwangju, and Jeju, and the overthrow of the democratic government of Korea at the same time. Recent military actions include depriving citizens of their homes and taking violent action against candlelit rallies,'' he said.

Kang said his nude performance was a way of showing that there was no compromise in his beliefs. "First I thought recruiting soldiers could be okay. But later I thought we do not need a military system at all,'' he said...

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/117_32016.html

Hankyoreh's report about the "event":

As tanks roll down Tehran Street in the Gangnam district during a parade commemorating Army Day on October 1, Kang Ui-seok, 22, a law student at Seoul National University, goes nude to urge the government to dissolve the army.

Kang appeared suddenly at 4:20 p.m and commenced with a short role play in which he brandished a fake gun he had made out of snack food, putting a stop to the parade for about 30 seconds. Kang was arrested immediately.

Police said that prior to the parade, Kang hid for 12 hours in a trench he had dug himself.

According to police, Kang said that If Korea were to dissolve its army, it could help underdeveloped countries by saving the lives of starving children. In explaining his demonstration, Kang said that he had appeared in the nude to symbolize the condition of being unarmed and was meant to evoke peace and nonviolence.

The police booked him on charges of obscenity later that day.

Armed Forces Day's Soft and Fuzzy Advertisment

2008-09-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

Narration and Text:

Challenging limits

Most people don't remember how difficult the first step was

The memory of creating something out of nothing

But we know that your initial steps became a way

Your sweat made today

'The nation where hope blossomed within adversity'

Your dream is making the future

'Advanced powerful military! The people together, towards the future, towards the world'

한계에 대한 도전

누구도 기억하지 않습니다 그 첫발이 얼마나 힘들었는지를

무에서 유를 창조한 기억

하지만 우리는 알고 있습니다

당신의 그 한 걸음 한 걸음이

길이 되었다는 것을

당신의 땀이 오늘을 만들었습니다

'역경 속에서 희망을 꽃피운 나라'

당신의 꿈이 미래를 만들고 있습니다

'선진강군! 국민과 함께 미래로, 세계로'

Counter demonstration for Armed Forces Day parade

2008-09-29T00:48:00.001-07:00

Its been 60 years since the founding of Korea's military and this Wednesday, October 1st, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) will be celebrating the occasion by showing off its big guns in a good old fashioned military show of force in down town Seoul. Not just guns, but tanks, missiles, and spiffy new uniform designs will be paraded through the streets as well. Meanwhile at Jamshil Olympic Stadium, closed to the general public, the government will host a veritable lollapalooza of VIP attendees featuring concerts, presentations about new high tech military gizmos, and rather unsubtly crafted performances of nationalistic flavor such as "Advanced Powerful Military: The Musical". Peripheral events occurring throughout the month include a letter writing contest for high school students to write letters about why national security and the military are important to Korean society.

Granted, since the holiday stopped being a national day off, the attendance will likely be far few than an average candle light vigil.

While Armed Forces Day (국군 의 날) may not inspire a huge turnout for the ticker-tape, a small but dedicated group of citizens were significantly moved by the planned military pomp and circumstance that they are preparing their own independent events to express what the Korean military means for them.

One of the more ambitious of the counter demonstrators is Kang We-suck. We-suck, a conscientious objector who will serve jail time next year instead of doing his mandatory military service, will likely get a sneak preview of prison life as a result of his protest. Catapulted into the public light as a highschool activist for religious freedom, We-suck will bring his provocative form of protest to the parade, as he plans to confront the rolling tanks head on in the buff. Dancing and hors d'oeuvres are also anticipated as part of the show. We-suck, eager to probe the boundaries of Korea's social sensibilities, will be treading into relatively unknown territory, as Korea lacks a developed tradition of nude protest and will likely interpret the act as a form of perverse exhibitionism. This bare-all standoff with the military will be the latest in a number of symbolic volleys by We-suck, the most well known one being the letter to Park Tae-hwan, olympic gold medalist swimmer. In the now infamous letter, We-suck criticizes the standards for military exemption where athletes who win gold medals are rewarded with not having to fulfill their national duty. His ultimate denouncement, however, is conscription, militarized Korean society, and the military itself. He has been lambasted by conservatives and progressives, accusing him of being immature, taking cheap-shots, sensationalism, and being a traitor.

The Counter Events:

While smaller events are expected to be occuring from 12pm on, at 4pm October 1st, a number of organizations will hold a press conference at Asia Park. Among the sponsoring groups are World Without War, Peace and Human Rights Solidarity, Blood Sisters, and "Gundae?". At 4:30 the groups will begin a direct action counter parade towards Sam Sung station in the direction of the official military procession. At 5:30 back in Asia Park there will be a cultural festival consisting of musical performances.

To get to Asia Park, take the green line # 2 to Sports Complex Stadium station 종합운동장역 in Songpa-gu and exit 1.

CO Kang We-suck's infamous letter to Olympic medalist Park Tae-hwan

2008-09-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

(left: Kang We-suck right: Park Tae-hwan)

Kang We-suck, a Conscientious Objector and activist, has become a sensational and controversial figure recently after writing a letter that has circulated the internet and drawn much criticism from newspapers to netizens. Here is the letter that sparked the controversy.

Hey Tae-hwan, you should go to the military too

(my translation from the University news site "Daehak Nae-il")

original article in Korean

Hello, Marine-Boy (nickname)! This is our first meeting, sorry for speaking banmal (informal speech). You can feel free to call me by my nickname "Babo" (idiot).

I'm We-seok Kang, self-professed 'film director'. Granted, my films have only been screened twice at the CGV theatre before being taken down, but by February of 2009 I expect my completed blockbuster documentary 'Military?' to win top prize in the Cannes Film Festival. If that happens, like an Olympic medalist, in the name of 'enhancing national prestige' I might be blessed with exemption from military duty. But I'm thinking I'll probably reject that favor and go to jail instead. This will mean that for a year and a half I won't be able to work on the film. Or I might never finish it—I could eat mad cow-infected beef and die first.

This Beijing Olympics twenty-two people were granted exemption from military duty. They received prize money worth 50,000 US dollars, as well as a lifetime monthly pension of 1,000 US dollars. Tae-hwan, did you see the moment Korean baseball became the best in the world? In the middle of an all-niter meeting about 'how to abolish the military in Korea', I got a text message from a stranger saying that "Korean baseball won the gold medal" (I've got a lot of fans too^^). In the process of the clean sweep victory Seung-yeop got the nickname 'military duty exemption broker', Tae-ho happily related how "he was more worried about the semifinals, upon which military exemption depended, than the finals. The young athletes who hadn't gone to the military yet experienced a lot of stress."

What I want to say is that the medal earned through hard work has become a royal gift of 'military exemption' for the athlete's achievements. It struck me that if you look at Olympic athletes who are granted exemption from military duty they are like roman era slave-gladiators who win their freedom by slaying their opponent. What is enhancing national honor? The 'standard' is vague. Even if it can be said that national prestige was enhanced, it is impossible to understand what process connects that with military exemption. What sense does it make that a taekwondo medalist whose combat ability is many times greater than a regular person is removed from the military where his strength could be used.

I saw your Wondergirl (famous pop band) friend in the August issue of 'GQ' at a hair salon. In the article she mentioned that whenever they would get lazy Jin-yeong (their producer) would crack the whip and get them working hard again. Asked by a reporter, "This isn't the military, why don't you just skip this practice?" she replied "this is just as important as the military". Seeing this, the military itself being used as the synonym for an important structure and function, I thought about how our culture accepts this as normal. And I felt heavy from head to heart.(however, I wouldn't mind being introduced to her ^^)

Military? Do you think that the military is really necessary? I believe that the military, while claiming to stop violence, in fact is the cause of more violence in the world. For the sake of peace, the institution of militarism must disappear throughout the world. To work for this change, my friends and I are conducting a 100-person campaign, pledging to go to jail instead of the military. Thus far we've gathered 18 people, you would be the 19th. So won't you join us on October 1st, Armed Forces Day, in a nude demonstration with the motto "Demilitarization is Beautiful."

Even if there was a constitutional clause that "condemned a beautiful person to the death penalty", just as no one can (legally) kill you or I, people come before the constitution. People say that the constitution cannot violate individual freedom. Forcibly burdening countless youths with military service ignores article ten of the constitution, guaranteeing the "right to pursue happiness." Discriminating Olympians from regular people infringes on article eleven of the constitution, guaranteeing "equality under the law". Tae-hwan, do you know the reason why 200,000 people have to do a non-military civil duty? Frankly speaking, isn't it because people would complain that "since I spent 2 years in the military so you should waste two years as well. What is this military exemption?" They'd say, "you go to the military too, Tae-hwan. Women too, go to the military."

I don't want to waste my precious life for a ridiculous reason like that.

What I want to say is that, while you are valuable, I'm just as valuable a person as you are. That's all. When you feel like having a drink, send me a message~

(some other English articles on Kang We-suck)

The Korea Times
The Sungshin Mirror

My introduction to Conscientious Objection in Korea

2008-09-12T02:53:00.001-07:00

Years ago while attending university in Texas, I befriended a Korean exchange student. We discussed his future plans after finishing college, and I was surprised to hear him say that he could not return back to Korea. The reason for this was even more surprising to me. If he returned to Korea, he would immediately be required to fulfill his two year-long mandatory military service. While he clearly abhorred the idea of this forced military duty, I didn't press for his precise reasons for objecting. He was sacrificing quite a lot with this decision: risking becoming an illegal resident in the United States, a criminal in South Korea, and of course losing the ability to visit his friends, family, and country of origin. Even though I was struck by the suffering and seeming injustice of his situation, I remained largely ignorant about South Korea and the conscription service until moving here years later.

Once I arrived in Korea I found among my circle of friends, artists, musicians, and activists who were openly opposed to militarism in general and forced military service specifically. Not wanting to become martyrs for a political struggle, many of this individuals sought myriad, sometimes extreme, ways to avoid going to the military besides going to prison. Witnessing the effect of this social institution on my friends, I was shocked by how dramatically it altered their lives, their goals, their bodies, and their minds, as well as the profound effect it had on those close to them.

Every year, people like my friend in Texas, Korean-born students and workers around the world face the decision to return to Korea to fulfill their military duty or avoid it by staying abroad. Some enlist proudly and enthusiastically, whereas the majority do so begrudgingly, bowing to the overwhelming pressure of government, culture, family, and friends. Very few Korean men seem willing to risk the state punishment, the social ostracism, and other consequences affecting almost every aspect of one's life that accompany the refusal to join the military. It truly makes me wonder when people refer to conscientious objectors as "cowards", who is showing real courage and principles when the military calls?

Militarism and Resistance in South Korea (Video)

2008-09-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

South Korea has more citizens imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service than any other nation in the world. Currently over 700 young men are serving one year and six month sentences. Every year, Korean men face the brutal choice to join the military complex or follow their conscience, facing social ostracism and imprisonment. A history of Japanese imperialism, a civil war sparked by the United States and Soviet jousting. Three decades of military dictatorship. Pervasive United States military presence. Violent destruction of farming villages for the expansion of U.S. bases. A National Security Act that restricts freedom of speech and opposition to military duty. Korea has recently begun to openly face its own contradictions of "democracy" and a deeply ingrained militarization.

seoulidarity.net - Korean social movement solidarity site in English
전쟁없는세상 - Korean anti-militarism and Conscientious Objector solidarity organization "World Without War"

(Video with French Narration) Voici un vidéo introduisant le militarisme et les mouvements de résistance de l'histoire moderne et contemporaine de la Corée du sud.