Reportedly, more than six out of every ten Koreans are opposed to “conscientious objection,” meaning evasion of military duty for religious or other reasons. Furthermore, it has been discovered that roughly 70% of Koreans are unaware that the government bears the entire burden of costs for AIDS treatment.
On May 24, the Korean Association of Church Communication (representative: Rev. Yu Man-seok) announced the results of its opinion survey, carried out on May 15~16 by Korea Gallup, a specialized opinion research company, and targeting 1,017 men and women aged 19 or older, as to “citizen awareness about conscientious objection and homosexuality.”
When asked, “Can you understand conscientious objection, that is, refusal of military duty for reasons of religion or conviction?” 66.8% of respondents said, “I cannot understand.” 26.6% said, “I can understand.” Meanwhile, the proportion favoring introduction of an alternative service system, 73.4%, was three times as high as those opposed to such a system (21.2%). This appears to indicate that while many people are against conscientious objection, they have a positive attitude toward a possible system to replace military duty. Asked about their intent to undergo religious conversion (for exemption from military duty) if an alternative service system is instituted, 77.1% responded “no such intention.” The highest rate of positive replies came from persons in the 19~29 age group, among whom 21.1% said, “I intend to change my religion.”
On the same day, the Citizens Association Against Constitutional Revision Allowing Gay Marriage held a “citizens’ rally criticizing problems in the basic national human rights policy plan and demanding its abolition” (photo), attended by 400 some persons in front of the Blue House fountain, where the participants expressed their “opposition to legislation allowing gay marriage” and demanded “immediate abolition of the basic human rights policy plan.”
Reporters Paek Sang-hyun & Shim Wusam (100sh@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Photo by intern reporter Zysu Song
Original Article in Korean:
국민 66.8% “양심적 병역거부 반대”: 교회언론회 설문조사
66.8% of Koreans Are “Opposed To Conscientious Objection”
2018-05-25 16:35
