ROK stalls on military service option

The Republic of Korea (ROK) is not ready to allow conscientious objectors to perform a humanitarian alternative to compulsory military service because the public does not like the idea, the Defense Ministry said yesterday.

Since 1948, all physically fit ROK men aged 18 to 30 have had to serve at least two years in the military. Nearly 5,000 men, mostly Jehovah's Witnesses, have refused to perform military service since 2001. Objectors are usually imprisoned for 18 months.

Seoul had touted the idea of introducing an alternative to conscription early next year, under which objectors would live and work in special hospitals and care for senior citizens, as well as the disabled, lepers and mental patients. The ministry said last year it would conduct studies and seek a national consensus on the issue.