Some twenty ruling and opposition party lawmakers have submitted a revised bill that would allow conscientious objectors to perform alternative duties in the place of compulsory military service.

The bill proposes that able-bodied men refusing military service for reasons of religion or personal faith would be screened by a committee under the Military Manpower Administration.

If judged to be genuine conscientious objectors, they would then be allowed to fulfill social service duties as an alternative to military service. However, the alternative service period would be one and a half times longer than the current 24-month period of compulsory military duty.

In July, the Supreme Court found a conscientious objector guilty of violating the military conscription law, effectively ruling that matters of national security held precedence over one& 039 s freedom of conscience.