Dodging the Draft in South Korea
Compulsory military service in South Korea is a controversial issue
Military service is compulsory in South Korea. Over the years, thousands of conscientious objectors have been jailed for refusing. Now, there's a new alternative on offer: work in prison for 3 years instead.
27-year-old Kang Kiyoon is one of the first to perform the alternative service. Forced to take a break from his career as an interior designer, he still feels it's a punishment: 'For someone in their 20s, three years is not a short time'. His uncle, Kang Daehwan, was sent to jail 30 years ago for dodging the draft, and remembers how draft dodgers were treated: 'Many faced torture and there were those who lost their lives from it'. Baek Jong Keon was the first lawyer to resist the draft. He still sees room for improvement: 'I wish conscientious objectors could work in a place where they could interact with people and be part of society'.
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