A Seoul district court has ruled a conscientious objector not guilty of illegally evading compulsory military service.

This is the first such ruling in the nation in favor of conscientious objectors who refuse to join the military on religious grounds.

The Southern Seoul District Court found the 22-year-old defendant, a Jehovah's Witness identified only by his last name, Oh, innocent in a landmark decision announced on Friday.

Oh had been charged with refusing mandatory military service.

The ruling said his refusal of 24-month Army service was justified as his action was solely dictated by conscience, which constitutes sufficient grounds for protection of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience.

The court also acquitted a 23-year-old man, also a Jehova's Witness, who was accused of evading military service for religious reasons, and a 32-year-old man who refused a summons for reservist training.