Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Trinitarian]

The Jehovah's Witnesses are pacifists so I was wondering by refusing to serve in the military do the men simply go to jail and do their time there?

- Trinitarian (obviously not a Jehovah's Witness)

[merkurix]

I was told that there have been instances where some Jehovah's Witnesses have been fined and jailed for refusing to serve in the military. There have been some high profile cases in the past. Additionally, I have even heard of JW's getting in trouble for not bowing to the Korean flag or reciting the national anthem.

[Scotticus]

There are non-military ways to serve. I know of at least two options that don't explicitly involve violence; serving as a police officer or teaching English out in the country. I had a friend who was going to teach out in the boonies to get out of his military service.

[teachergirltoo]

Yes. All of them do. In the past several years there have been a handful of young JW men here in Korea that have died while doing their prison time. They all serve an 18 month term. Recently there was a decision by the Courts here in Korea promising to consider letting them do alternative service rather than jail time in the future, but as of right now they all do jail time as conscientious objectors.

[Grab the Chickens Levi]

[princess]

I met a Korean girl in the subway last year and she started talking to me about going to her church. She was a Jehovah's Witness and she told me that the next day, her two brothers were going off to prison because they were conscientious objectors and refused to serve in the military. Scary!

[riverboy]

I've got a student in my morning hogwon class who is a Jehova witness and he says that he fully intends on going to jail if they don't make an objection for conscientious objectors.

[Young FRANKenstein]

I've had three students over the years who have gone to jail because they were JWs. They refused to enlist, so they were jailed for the term of their enlistment. None of them were angry about it; just sorta matter-of-fact about the situation. All of them said they'd do it again if given the choice to do over.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[teachergirltoo]

It is not an easy go for any person that is a conscientious objector in a Korean prison. I was just reading the Amnesty International report on how they are trying to stop the brutality in the Korean prisons by the staff against conscientious objectors. The men in my congregation said that actually only the first sixty days are the most difficult because the guards are waiting for a work assignment for them and they make them sit on the ground in the lotus position with rod straight backs for eight hours each day. If they slouch or flinch they are hit. They said after that period of time though it is easier to endure.

[CentralCali]

From what I understand of the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, alternative service isn't acceptable either as it's still forced service to a government not instituted by God (in their view).

[Scotticus]

[CentralCali]

[Scotticus]

[CentralCali]

You know what, I'm done with you and your stalking trollish behavior. Get another hobby.