You want alternative service because you're a socialist?Supreme Court "Dismissed"

A man who applied for alternative service because he was a "socialist" and was dismissed filed for cancellation, but it was not accepted by the Supreme Court.

On the 25th of last month, the Supreme Court confirmed the original ruling in a lawsuit filed by Mr. Na in his 30s against the Military Manpower Administration's alternative station review committee, asking them to "cancel the decision to dismiss the application."

In addition, he finally rejected a lawsuit filed against the head of the Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration, asking him to "cancel the disposition of notifying the enlistment of active soldiers."

The Supreme Court judged that Na's socialist beliefs could not be viewed as freedom of conscience and that there was no mistake, such as misunderstanding the law.

In 2020, after identifying himself as a socialist, Na applied for alternative service on the grounds that he was "not obligated to give his life to a country he did not love."

However, the Military Manpower Administration's substitute service review committee rejected the application, saying that Na's belief did not fall under the "freedom of conscience guaranteed by the Constitution," and filed a lawsuit against it when the Military Manpower Administration sent a notice of enlistment of active duty soldiers.

Since then, the first and second trials have not accepted Na's claim, saying that she is only emphasizing the military's wrong past history and turning a blind eye to the positive aspects.