Korea JoongAng Daily reports that for the first time yesterday, Korea's Supreme Court held that a non-religious conscientious objector is entitled to an exemption from annual reservist training:
Reading the top court’s ruling, presiding Judge Lee Heung-goo said, “Although it is not based in religious belief, the defendant’s rejection of reservist training stems from a sincere conscientious objection grounded in his ethical, moral and philosophical convictions. We therefore see this as a justifiable application of the provision in the Reserve Forces Act for declining participation.”...
At his Supreme Court trial, the man testified, “Growing up under a violent father, I underwent a self-awakening about the use of force. Later, I saw a video of American soldiers shooting civilians from a helicopter, which led me to renounce the idea of possibly killing or murdering another human being.”
(See prior related posting.)
