Capital punishment in South Korea
Encyclopedia
Capital punishment
is a legal form of punishment
in South Korea
and death sentences are still handed down, most recently on April 21, 2009, when Kang Ho-sun was convicted for the murder of ten people. However, no executions have been carried out since the late President Kim Dae-jung came to power in February 1998, the last ones taking place on 31 December 1997, when 23 people were put to death.
"Kang Ho-sun" was convicted of kidnapping and killing eight women between 2006 and 2008, and of burning to death his wife and mother-in-law in 2005. Kang, 38, was arrested in January over the murder of a female college student, and later confessed to killing and secretly burying seven other women. Other death row inmates includes Yoo Young-chul
and members of the Chijon family
, a former gang of cannibals.
South Korea is one of only four developed industrialized democracies that still have the death penalty (the others are the United States
, where a majority of the states are retentionist, and Japan
and Taiwan, both of which executed prisoners in 2010), but it is the only one of the four that has an official moratorium.
In February 2010, South Korea's Highest Court upheld the death penalty in a 5-4 decision, but analysts say it is unlikely that executions will resume.
In March 2010, in contrast of prior speculations, South Korea's Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam hinted that the executions of death row inmates will continue, breaking the virtual 13-year moratorium. The remarks came few days after Kim Kil-tae, who raped and murdered a 13-year old schoolgirl, was convicted.
South Korea's Ministry of Justice has announced that it is considering replacing the death penalty with life without parole, a move that the ministry says stems from concerns about human rights. "We will thoroughly examine the possibility of abolishing the death penalty as part of efforts to set up a human rights-oriented penal system. . . . We will review the adequacy of introducing permanent life imprisonment which cannot be remitted by parole, as well as necessary budget and effect of the system," a ministry official noted. Korea plans to review whether capital punishment is effective in preventing crime and how society will be affected if the practice is banned. The government plans to examine changes in the frequency of violent crime in countries that have abandoned the death penalty. Last year, Korea's National Human Rights Commission recommended that capital punishment be abolished, and that call has been echoed by civic and religious organizations throughout the nation. June hearings have been scheduled to discuss the issue and the National Assembly is soon expected to consider pending legislation that would abolish capital punishment.
In December 2010, Kim Kil-tae was sentenced to life imprisonment. Prosecutors will not plead to the Supreme Court.
Three bills to abolish the death penalty are currently (June 2011) awaiting consideration by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in South Korea’s National Assembly.
South Korea is now classified by Amnesty International as “abolitionist in practice.” No executions have been carried out in South Korea since December 1997. On taking office in 1998 former President Kim Dae-jung, a former death row prisoner himself, halted executions.
http://www.koreaherald.com/opinion/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110608000910
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
is a legal form of punishment
Punishment
Punishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and death sentences are still handed down, most recently on April 21, 2009, when Kang Ho-sun was convicted for the murder of ten people. However, no executions have been carried out since the late President Kim Dae-jung came to power in February 1998, the last ones taking place on 31 December 1997, when 23 people were put to death.
"Kang Ho-sun" was convicted of kidnapping and killing eight women between 2006 and 2008, and of burning to death his wife and mother-in-law in 2005. Kang, 38, was arrested in January over the murder of a female college student, and later confessed to killing and secretly burying seven other women. Other death row inmates includes Yoo Young-chul
Yoo Young-Chul
Yoo Young-chul is a South Korean serial killer and self-confessed cannibal. Although he admitted to murdering 21 people, mostly prostitutes and wealthy old men, the Seoul Central District Court convicted him of 20 murders . Yoo burned three and mutilated at least 11 of his victims, admitting he...
and members of the Chijon family
Chijon Family
The Chijon Family were a South Korean gang of cannibals. The gang was founded in 1993 by Kim Ki-hwan, a former convict, and six other former prisoners and unemployed workers who shared his grudge against the rich....
, a former gang of cannibals.
South Korea is one of only four developed industrialized democracies that still have the death penalty (the others are the United States
Capital punishment in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
, where a majority of the states are retentionist, and Japan
Capital punishment in Japan
Capital punishment is legal in Japan. The only crimes for which capital punishment is statutory are homicide and treason. Between 1946 and 1993, Japanese courts sentenced 766 people to death , 608 of whom were executed...
and Taiwan, both of which executed prisoners in 2010), but it is the only one of the four that has an official moratorium.
In February 2010, South Korea's Highest Court upheld the death penalty in a 5-4 decision, but analysts say it is unlikely that executions will resume.
In March 2010, in contrast of prior speculations, South Korea's Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam hinted that the executions of death row inmates will continue, breaking the virtual 13-year moratorium. The remarks came few days after Kim Kil-tae, who raped and murdered a 13-year old schoolgirl, was convicted.
South Korea's Ministry of Justice has announced that it is considering replacing the death penalty with life without parole, a move that the ministry says stems from concerns about human rights. "We will thoroughly examine the possibility of abolishing the death penalty as part of efforts to set up a human rights-oriented penal system. . . . We will review the adequacy of introducing permanent life imprisonment which cannot be remitted by parole, as well as necessary budget and effect of the system," a ministry official noted. Korea plans to review whether capital punishment is effective in preventing crime and how society will be affected if the practice is banned. The government plans to examine changes in the frequency of violent crime in countries that have abandoned the death penalty. Last year, Korea's National Human Rights Commission recommended that capital punishment be abolished, and that call has been echoed by civic and religious organizations throughout the nation. June hearings have been scheduled to discuss the issue and the National Assembly is soon expected to consider pending legislation that would abolish capital punishment.
In December 2010, Kim Kil-tae was sentenced to life imprisonment. Prosecutors will not plead to the Supreme Court.
Three bills to abolish the death penalty are currently (June 2011) awaiting consideration by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in South Korea’s National Assembly.
South Korea is now classified by Amnesty International as “abolitionist in practice.” No executions have been carried out in South Korea since December 1997. On taking office in 1998 former President Kim Dae-jung, a former death row prisoner himself, halted executions.
http://www.koreaherald.com/opinion/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110608000910