양심적 병역거부자 대체복무 정부안, 36개월 교정업무 복무 유력 검토중

Seoul's defense ministry is currently working on a bill on the alternative service for conscientious objectors of the nation's mandatory military conscription.
For now though, these individuals will have to serve at correction facilities for 36 months.
Park Ji-won has the full story.
South Korea's defense ministry is closely examining viable alternative options for conscientious objectors,... who refuse the nation's mandatory military service.
According to ministry sources Wednesday,... conscientious objectors are highly likely to serve at correction facilities like prisons,... for 36 months,.. starting 2020.
At correctional institutions,... they could assume responsibilities of culinary affairs and commodity management.
The sources said, however, such options are not finally confirmed as of now,... and the ministry is still open to other opinions and suggestions by civic groups, objectors themselves,... and experts.
For instance, objectors could serve at facilities like fire stations or medical care centers for a limited period of time.
However, the sources said,... this particular option is much less likely to be heard of in the future,... as the ministry's prior on-site inspections of such facilities,... as well as public hearings and seminars,... showed that it is not feasible nor fair enough to serve as a valid replacement for the mandatory military service.
The defense ministry is currently working on a bill on the measure that could be used for conscientious objectors,... aiming to submit the bill to the National Assembly,... as early as February next year.
Annually, about five-hundred men in South Korea refuse the nation's mandatory military service for a conscientious reason.
The refusal was mostly met with jail time of about 18 months,... for violating military service act.
But early this month,... the nation's Supreme Court ruled in favor of conscientious objection to military service,... for the first time,... saying people can legally reject mandatory military service on the grounds of conscience or religions.
The Constitutional Court also ruled in June this year,... that it is unconstitutional that the current military service act does not provide alternative ways to serve for conscientious objectors,... and ordered to revise the law by the end of 2019.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.