Historic Milestones in South Korea
OCTOBER 18, 2016—Gwangju Appellate Court renders the first not-guilty decisions on appeal by three conscientious objectors
JANUARY 14, 2015—CCPR finds that South Korea violated the rights of 50 conscientious objectors and subjected them to “arbitrary detention”
OCTOBER 25, 2012—CCPR finds violations of right to freedom of conscience in its decision involving 388 Witness conscientious objectors
AUGUST 30, 2011—Constitutional Court again upholds law punishing conscientious objectors
MARCH 24, 2011—In examining communications from 100 Witnesses, the CCPR finds conscientious objection to military service is a protected right
MARCH 23, 2010—CCPR finds violations of right to freedom of conscience in complaints of 11 non-Witness conscientious objectors
JANUARY 15, 2009—Presidential report confirms that government is responsible for death of five Witness conscientious objectors in its custody from 1975 to 1985
NOVEMBER 3, 2006—UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR) finds that South Korea violated rights of two Witness conscientious objectors
AUGUST 26, 2004—Constitutional Court upholds the constitutionality of law punishing conscientious objectors
1975—Government institutes coercive military conscription requiring 100 percent participation
1973—Government begins torture of imprisoned Witnesses that persists into mid-1990’s
1953—Government imprisons first Witness conscientious objector
OCTOBER 30, 1952—Government registers The Watch Tower Songso Chaekja Hyuphoi of Korea