Republic of Korea: Communication sent on 24 May 2005

“292. The Special Rapporteur had received reports that 1030 Jehovah’s witnesses were jailed in the Republic of Korea because they refused to do military service for reasons related to their religious belief.” (…)
“305. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the Government’s detailed response. She has also taken note of the Government’s position on conscientious objectors through the third periodic State Party Report, which it submitted to the Human Rights Committee in February 2005 (CCPR/C/KOR/2005/3). While she notes that military service may sometimes be necessary for purposes of national security she would like to draw the Government’s attention to paragraph 11 of General Comment 22 of the Human Rights Committee which provides that although the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights “does not explicitly refer to a right to conscientious objection, the Committee believes that such a right can be derived from article 18, inasmuch as the obligation to use lethal force may seriously conflict with the freedom of conscience and the right to manifest one’s religion or belief.””