A senior theology student at Sahmyook University in South Korea was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his conscientious objection.
A senior theology student at Sahmyook University in South Korea was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his conscientious objection.
Hee Jai Lim, 22, who came to the University from the Seventh-day Adventist Dong Gu Neung Church in Guri City, Kyonggi-do prefecture, refused to carry guns in the military after being drafted August 18, 2002. Usually, when someone rejects military training after entering the service, a military court hands down a mandatory three-year prison sentence.
However, on March 10, the judge gave Lim 18 months in jail rather than three years, following a trial at the 12th Division of Military Police Court in Kangwon-do, South Korea. A military attorney was appointed to defend Lim.
Conscientious objection is now a burgeoning issue in South Korea. About 500 young men, mainly Jehovah’s Witnesses, are jailed annually over their objection to military training. They refuse to enter military service even when called by the draft. Their cases are now often dealt with at civil court instead of military court; the objectors are given 18-month prison sentences. About 30 non-governmental organizations working for human rights in Korea are campaigning to release conscientious objectors who have been in prison more than 18 months. The groups are calling for an equality of sentences for both civilian and military courts.
Lim was able to make a speech before judgment sentencing on the day and said: “I hope that there will be no more people like me to stand in military court because of conscientious objection. I expect that our government will introduce alternative service to help individuals to serve their country loyally according to their conscience and faith.” He cried while he made his speech and the judge was moved by his appeal.
Soo Jai Lee, pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church which is located near the military court, said that “the real factor moving the minds of the people is not the speech of humans, but the work of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, church members’ prayers made it possible to decrease the length of Lim’s sentence from 3 years to 18 months.”
Commenting on his sentence, Lim said: “I feel more happy though I was sentenced. Because, God has used me to spread the gospel in the military base where it is a spiritual desert. God sowed seed of the gospel.
“I am not fighting by myself,” said Lim. “The Adventist community is very big and loving community. I was very much encouraged through the prayers of the Adventist members. I will do my best to live according to what they prayed for me. Although I become a captive in prison physically, I feel freedom and happiness.”
Under South Korean law, all male youths are required to perform military service for an average of 26 months. Civilian forms of service are available only to those with health problems, while those with serious disabilities are excused. Sahmyook University has about 5,000 students, including some 250 theology students. Approximately 165,000 Seventh-day Adventists worship in nearly 900 congregations in Korea.