Dodging the draft in South Korea

When the bell rings, the doors unlock and the friends and relatives of inmates at Yeongdeungpo Prison enter the small visiting rooms. On the other side of the window, stands a man in a blue jumpsuit. His name tag reads Paek Seung-Deok.

The 27-year old has so far completed almost a third of his 18-month sentence for refusing to serve in the South Korean army. Speaking through the intercom, Paek only has ten minutes to answer my questions.

"Do you regret making this choice?" I ask him. "I was a little worried about coming here before I arrived, but now, I don't regret my decision at all."

Hundreds refuse to serve in the military every year

According to South Korea's National Police Agency, close to 1000 men were arrested for declining military service last year.

Paek is a conscientious objector, but not everyone who skips out does it for moral reasons. Some athletes and entertainers make the headlines for faking disabilities that would disqualify them from their duty. Recently, a break-dancing troupe was busted for pretending to have mental disorders.

Choi Jungmin, whose NGO represents conscientious objectors such as Paek, says she never encourages anyone to lie. She just hopes the day will come when the government ends forced conscription, which she feels is a violation of human rights.

"It's not natural to train people to shoot one another. I understand that because of the security situation in Korea we need a military, but the army is operating on a 60-year-old model. We don't need such a big military and service should be voluntary."

No plans to do away with the conscript army

Military advisors to the South Korean president agree that reform is needed, but doing away with a conscript army all together is not on the cards. Hong Doo-Seung serves on a defense panel that was formed in response to the recent sinking of the Cheonan naval corvette, which resulted in the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors.

Hong Doo-Seung says that if conscription ended then the military would not represent the entire population, as men from the upper class would not volunteer for service. As it is now, 85 percent of conscripted soldiers are college-educated and this serves as a great resource for the Korean military, compared to other volunteer armies.

Hong doesn't think draft dodgers hurt the military's capabilities, but they do set a bad example. Service, he says, is still a rite of passage for men and career options are limited for those who do not fulfill their duty.

Helping other objectors prepare for jail

Back at Yeongdeungpo jail, time with conscientious objector Paek Seung-Deok is running out. He doesn't seem too worried about the ramifications of skipping out on the military, the tough part, he says, came earlier when he tried to convince his family he was doing the right thing.

"At first my family was really embarrassed about me, but they did eventually support and respect my decision."

Before Paek can finish, the intercom shuts off and he has to return to his cell. He does manage to say that once he’s out, he hopes to help other objectors prepare for the time they could end up spending behind bars.

Author: Jason Strother (Seoul)
Editor: Anne Thomas