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Audio

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TEASER

Footage SK army

IN SOUTH KOREA, IT’S CONSIDERED A “SACRED DUTY” FOR YOUNG MEN TO SERVE COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE.

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 ITV Hyojason

The military is part of South Korean men’s lives, whether they like it or not.

BUT SOME RESIST THE DRAFT, ON MORAL AND RELIGIOUS GROUNDS.

upsot: War starts here!

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In a country technically at war with North Korea, refusing to serve in the military is taboo - and until recently, it was a crime

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ITV Kiyoon’s uncle

ITV Yoo Gyun Hye

Objectors were beaten and tortured. Some even lost their lives from it.

I’ve had time to think about the hardships that I will have to face for dodging the draft. I feel that it will be alright as I am mentally prepared.

101 EAST MEETS THOSE CHALLENGING CONSCRIPTION IN SOUTH KOREA.

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TITLE

DODGING THE DRAFT IN SOUTH KOREA

A FILM BY YE-RINNE PARK

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Park Jin Chul’s home.

Park wearing his military uniform

We still haven’t ended the war. We have only made a truce. We are at a stage when war can break out at any time. That is why I believe that it is important to keep our military conscription.

It may sound harsh, but no one should be excluded from it. It is our “sacred duty”.

HYOJASON IS A RENOWNED YOUTUBER IN SOUTH KOREA.

I’m going crazy! Please kill me instead!

HE POSTS VIDEOS ABOUT LIFE IN THE MILITARY, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN VIEWED MORE THAN 2 MILLION TIMES.

Once you say this line,

I will read the text until here.

Is this microphone working?

UPSOT

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Park and his wife filming a video for his youtube channel.

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Seoul’s streets

I write sketches that recreate different situations that one can experience  there.

In South Korea, all men have an interest in military service. Once they are discharged, it becomes a big part of their memories, and before joining the army, there is a real curiosity about it. But when I started my videos [in 2018], there were no channels that would talk about it in detail.

I received a lot of positive feedback and thanks to this interest I am still able to produce videos today.

Military is part of South Korean men’s lives, whether they like it or not.

It is a mandatory duty in South Korea, so it's an inevitable fate that one cannot avoid.

IN SOUTH KOREA, ALL MEN ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE AT LEAST 18 MONTHS IN THE MILITARY BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 28.

BUT EVERY YEAR HUNDREDS REFUSE ON RELIGIOUS OR MORAL GROUNDS. MOST OF THESE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS ARE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, LIKE 27 YEAR OLD KANG KIYOON.

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KIYOON AT HOME

Kiyoon attending online mass with his parents

ITV Kiyoon

Kiyoon on his way to play badminton with his friends

YTN TV news

TODAY, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, HE’S ATTENDING AN ONLINE MASS WITH HIS PARENTS.

Since I was young, I’ve studied the Bible with my parents. it says that you should love your neighbour like yourself. That is why I’ve refused to serve in the army and to hold weapons that can harm others.

So for me it’s time to face the consequences.

IN LESS THAN A WEEK, KIYOON MUST LEAVE HIS FAMILY FOR THREE YEARS

It’s your last mass with us!

Yes it is.

- He is your precious son, you will miss him so much, how will you handle that!

Indeed… We will have to suffer for some time!

Without separation there is no reunion.

KIYOON WILL BE HEADING TO PRISON, BUT NOT AS A CONVICTED CRIMINAL.

HE WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS IN THE COUNTRY TO PERFORM ALTERNATIVE SERVICE.

INSTEAD OF 18 MONTHS IN THE MILITARY, HE’LL SPEND DOUBLE THAT TIME WORKING IN THE KITCHEN, THE MAILROOM, OR AS A GUARD.

KIYOON SAYS HE’S GRATEFUL NOT TO BE A PRISONER, BUT HE STILL FEELS IT’S A PUNISHMENT.

I’ve been an active member of society and I’m still a young man with many dreams and hopes for my future. For someone in their 20s, three years is not a short time. I’ve been working as an interior designer for the past six years. I won’t be able to earn my living as such for the upcoming years and since it's technical work, it will take time until I feel comfortable again. It’s a sacrifice not only for me but also for my team. It makes me worried.

See you in three years!

Three years, that's way too long!

Take care!

THE ALTERNATIVE SERVICE FOR CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS JUST STARTED TODAY. INSTEAD OF RECEIVING MILITARY TRAINING, THEY WILL WORK AND STAY IN PRISON FOR 36 MONTHS.

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GOVERNMENT

Illust Daejon

Board members getting ready for the meeting

ITV Yoo Gyun Hye

War memorial, Seoul

500 YOUNG MEN HAVE APPLIED FOR ALTERNATIVE SERVICE IN 2022.

THEIR FATE IS DECIDED IN DAEJON, A HUNDRED MILES SOUTH OF SEOUL.

HERE, KOREA’S MILITARY MANPOWER ADMINISTRATION MEETS THREE TIMES A MONTH TO DECIDE WHO IS ELIGIBLE. (ELLE-EE-GIBULL)

YOO GYUN HYE IS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

It’s a voting system. So there are some cases when the outcome has changed by only one or two votes.

Conscientious objectors have to provide various materials…such as statements about themselves, certificates proving they belong to a church, and anything that shows that they are religious. Then our committee will review the documents to determine whether they have faith, discuss it and vote to decide whether this person is eligible.

TODAY, THE COMMITTEE IS REVIEWING 33 CASES.

It was not easy for the general public to accept alternative services  to replace their national defence obligations.

As a result, we had no choice but to think of a way so that those who fulfil their military duty don’t feel left out in the process of creating alternative service. We made it so that it is similar to the standard military service: conscientious objectors have to live the base, serve similar days of vacation and receive the same amount of salary as those who serve standard military service. But we extended the period of alternative service to twice as long as the standard military service.

I declare open the 28th session of 2021 regarding the cases of conscientious objectors.

SOUTH KOREA HAS ENDURED DECADES OF CONFLICT AND WAR. AS A RESULT, NATIONAL SECURITY HAS LONG BEEN A PRIORITY IN THE PENINSULA.

WHILE MUCH OF THE POPULATION STILL SUPPORTS CONSCRIPTION, A GROWING NUMBER OF SOUTH KOREANS ARE QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE.

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ACTIVISTS

World Withtout War’s office

ITV Lee Yong Suk

Illust ADEX

Activists protesting at ADEX

Intercontinental Hotel, Seoul

Activists in the elevator

Surprise protest with the activists

ITV Lee Yong Suk

Kiyoon in the rain

AMONG THEM IS LEE YONG SUK,

Hello Moongchi!

A PEACE ACTIVIST WHO REFUSED TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY ON MORAL GROUNDS.

LEE HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING AGAINST ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS THROUGH HIS ASSOCIATION, WORLD WITHOUT WAR.

I was scared of getting beaten up in the army, but more importantly I didn’t want to become the offender myself. The Korean military system is based on violence - once there, could I really resist it?

We first organised campaigns against the imprisonment of conscientious objectors but now we are starting debates on why we are against conscription, and why, because we are against war, we are refusing to do military service.

ONE OF THE ACTIVISTS’ MAIN TARGETS IS ADEX - THE SEOUL INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE EXHIBITION...

AN EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY TWO YEARS.

Be careful not to lose your children, hold their hand!

There is a day when adex opens for the public. on that day, people visit there with their family. parents bring their children and they like to look at all the weapons and enjoy the air show.

But it’s not only an exhibition - there are also arms deals.

Stop exporting deadly Korean weapons!

We have prepared protests against this arms trade.

NOT FAR FROM THE EXHIBITION, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE MEETING WITH ARMS DEALERS IN A HIGH-END HOTEL.

LEE YONG SUK AND HIS GROUP OF ACTIVISTS HAVE COME TO DISRUPT THE NEGOTIATIONS.

Come this way!

I’ve heard that here at ADEX you are selling arms that kill citizens!

War starts here!

Is it online?

Yes, I've posted it on Facebook. Can you see it?

I’ve also posted it on Instagram.

After rallying at Adex Weapon Fair and posting about it on our SNS, there were many comments saying, "What if we're invaded and we don't have any weapons?", or "Are you a spy? "You're Kim Jong-un’s subordinate".

When we talk about peace, either people insult us or they don’t care at all.

I don't think it's easy to talk about this topic in South Korea and make peace movements like us.

FOR GENERATIONS, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS HAVE BEEN TRAUMATISED BY THE BACKLASH

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Kiyoon arriving at his grandparents’s house

Kiyoon discussing w/ his family

Kiyoon’s grandfather

Kiyoon’s uncle

ITV Kiyoon’s uncle

Seoul night shots

Inserting photos

Nighttime looking at computer shots

DAYS BEFORE HIS ALTERNATIVE SERVICE STARTS, KIYOON KNOWS THIS ALL TOO WELL.

All my family on my father’s side are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Not only me, but also my father’s generation and my grandfather’s have struggled with problems linked with the military service.

I know they have suffered more than I will.

Come on in! I’m so happy to see you! You’re even taller than the last time I saw you.

How have you been? It’s been a long time!

Come, let me take you in my arms!

KIYOON’S RELATIVES ARE GATHERING AT HIS GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE TO SAY FAREWELL.

 Mum and Dad rely on me a lot so I’m worried that I won’t be able to help them when I’m not here.

Leave these problems to me and your uncle. This way you will feel better. And above all, pray to God. This will help you a lot. Don’t you think so?

You will meet criminals because you’re doing alternative service in prison. God says, “Respect everyone, whoever they are.” If so, after 3 years, your faith will be stronger and we could all benefit from that. We have high expectations.

THIRTY YEARS AGO, KIYOON’S UNCLE, KANG DAEHWAN WAS SENT TO JAIL FOR DODGING THE DRAFT. HE STILL CARRIES PAINFUL MEMORIES.

The 2 years I spent in jail were very difficult.

I felt like a door closed on me. I was abandoned and all alone. I was a prisoner with no chance to escape.

Because Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to serve in the military, we’ve been in jail and we have a very painful history.

Among our senior brothers, many have faced torture and there were those who have lost their lives from the torture.

In prison, no one knows what the next day will be like. It was a repetition of insecure days. We were there because of our religious beliefs so we only had [God] to endure this hardship and could only rely on our faith. 16 46

SOUTH KOREA WAS ONCE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST JAILER OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

DURING THE PAST 70 YEARS, MORE THAN 19 000 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED FOR DODGING THE DRAFT.

EXEMPTIONS FROM MILITARY SERVICE ARE RARE AND OFTEN CONTROVERSIAL. SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES AND MUSICIANS CAN SOMETIMES DEFER OR AVOID SERVICE.

YTN UPSOT:

Whenever we are about to forget about them…

Young men fabricating all kinds of situations to be exempted from the draft are resurfacing.

THOSE WHO REFUSE THE DRAFT WITHOUT PERMISSION ARE TRACKED DOWN BY THE AUTHORITIES AND FACE UP TO 5 YEARS IN JAIL.

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LAWYER

Baek Jong Keon’s office

​​Baek showing us his drawing

Newspapers

ITV Baek

Baek leaving his office

Footage prison

Conscientious objectors performing alternative service

BAEK JONG KEON KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO CHALLENGE THE SYSTEM.

A JEHOVAH’S WITNESS, HE WAS THE FIRST LAWYER TO RESIST THE DRAFT IN SOUTH KOREA.

This is a drawing of my prison cell. We would put these blankets - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 on the floor like that. It would fill the whole space. We would sleep pressed against each other. And this is the calendar where we would mark every passing day.

WHILE IN PRISON, HE WROTE 1000 LETTERS TO INFLUENTIAL SOUTH KOREANS - TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. BUT IT MADE LITTLE DIFFERENCE.

I sent a letter to a judge handling cases of conscientious objectors and he sent me a reply with his thoughts and doubts.

“It was interesting to read about your life in jail and the cause of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses go to the army? You told me it’s simply because God doesn’t allow it. But then why are you requesting the government to be lenient with you? I guess you just want to protect your freedom of religion.”

BECAUSE OF HIS CRIMINAL RECORD, BAEK SAYS HE HAD TO WAIT FOR YEARS TO GET BACK HIS LICENSE TO PRACTICE LAW.

AND HE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE TO STRUGGLE AFTER REFUSING TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY.

THE LAWYER HAS HELPED HUNDREDS OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, WHO HAVE BEEN SOCIALLY EXCLUDED AND FINANCIALLY DEPRIVED DUE TO THEIR DECISION.

For young people, the most important thing is to find a job. But in South Korea, when men are looking for a job, they are always asked about their military duty.

Many conscientious objectors around me struggle as cleaners, locksmiths, or drivers as they can’t get hired by good companies.

In South Korea, a father is a role model for his children. When he refuses to do military service and is looked down upon in society… then his children have to go through the same ordeal.

WITH ALTERNATIVE SERVICE, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS ARE NOW FREED FROM CRIMINAL RECORDS THAT USED TO TRAIL THEM FOR THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

IT’S A HUGE RELIEF -  HOWEVER, BAEK THINKS THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

In South Korea, conscientious objectors only work in jails. But in Northern Europe or in Greece and other countries, they work in retirement homes, hospitals, post offices, government offices and many places in need of their services. I wish it was the same in South Korea and that conscientious objectors could work in a place where they could interact with people and be part of society. This could help change their mindset on draft resisters. 

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KIYOON D-DAY

Kiyoon on his way to prison with his parents

Phone call with Kiyoon’s aunt

Kiyoon’s soundbite

Kiyoon’s father

Farewell

Kiyoon entering the correctional facility

FOR KIYOON, IT’S FINALLY TIME TO GO.

HIS PARENTS ARE ACCOMPANYING HIM TO THE TRAINING CAMP WHERE HIS ALTERNATIVE SERVICE BEGINS.

Yes sister! I’ll give the phone to Kiyoon, but don’t be too long!

Hello?

Hi Kiyoon! Stay safe there. Don’t worry too much about your dad.

Your aunt is crying.

Why are you crying! Don’t cry.

Sister, sister, don’t cry.

I will try to adapt myself to this new environment. I have spent so many years preparing myself for this moment… Part of me is excited.

My wife has often been by my side but my son was also always with me, when I went to the hospital, or when I went out… Wherever I would go, the seat next to mine would be occupied by Kiyoon. But now I won’t be able to see him for 3 years…. So I’m heartbroken.

Kiyoon is about to join 60 other conscientious objectors.

Stay safe Kiyoon.

Don’t cry! Why are you crying?

Go, it’s time to go.

My son is strong. He also has a soft side but he is good at controlling his feelings. I think he will serve his duty well.

Good luck!

I’m going now.

Take care.

You have to go this way, right?

My only wish for him is that he remains both physically and mentally healthy while he is away.