"Do I have to live as a criminal because I am gay?" A South Korean soldier being prosecuted for homosexual activity asked the BBC in an interview this week.
The South Korean military has been prosecuting gay soldiers under a law which bans homosexual activity in the army.
Campaigners have called it a witch hunt, while the military has defended its actions saying they are aimed at protecting the "wholesomeness of the army".
The soldiers being prosecuted were tracked down using gay networking applications and face two years in prison and dishonourable discharge.
He told the BBC: "I'm constantly afraid that other soldiers in my battalion will find out. I'm also scared of what the outcome of the trial will be and how long I will have to spend in jail."
Watch the full interview here: http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-41400213/south-korea-soldier-criminal-because-i-m-gay
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Reader's Comments
By law, in Korea, all males are required to go into military service when they become of age. The people against gays have created; an insidious system to catch, prosecute, and eradicate all male gays in Korea.
There no way to avoid not being subjected to this if you have to go into the military.
This is a cruel law that should be stricken from the books. I hope enough people respond and get help for these poor guys.
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