South Korea's Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's acquittal of a man charged with refusing to fulfill his mandatory reservist duty for nonreligious reasons.

In its ruling on Thursday, the Supreme Court said even if the refusal is based on ethical, moral or philosophical beliefs and not religious, it should be regarded as a legitimate reason to object under the reserve forces law.

It is the first time the courts have exonerated a so-called "conscientious objector" for personal beliefs, rather than for religious ones.

After serving his mandatory military duty where he could avoid training by applying for chemical management, the defendant was discharged in February 2013.

He, however, stood trial for refusing to participate in 16 reserve forces training sessions from March 2016 to April 2018, citing his beliefs in nonviolence developed from being raised by an abusive father.

Lower courts have all handed out a not guilty verdict, giving credence to his personal beliefs.