Koreans Have Double Standard on Death Penalty
By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter
2010.05.01
The execution of a British drug smuggler in China last week has revealed that the issue of abolishing
the death penalty may be something that is "out of sight, out of mind" for Koreans.
The debate on putting to death domestic criminals is likely to heat up this year
as the Supreme Court failed to deliver its verdict on the matter on Dec. 29.
On Dec 30, representatives from 15 NGOs and religious groups held a press conference in Seoul
and urged the court to opt for the abolishment of capital punishment.
A total of 58 prisoners have been sentenced to death in South Korea, but the practice was suspended
after Kim Dae-jung was elected President in 1997. But this does not mean that Koreans have been immune
to death sentences in other nations.
In 2001, a South Korean citizen identified as Shin was executed in Harbin in eastern China for dealing drugs.
Three years later, another Korean man was executed for a murder. In both cases, the Korean government didn't
make an official petition to pardon the men, and the media and NGOs also showed little interest.
Currently there are 15 South Korean convicts in China with suspended death sentences, the Donga Ilbo has reported,
citing the Korean embassy in Beijing - most of them involved in drug cases. But there haven't been any petitions from
NGOs to the Chinese government or serious media coverage on those people.
The disparity in sympathy toward criminals in Korea and those in China seems to confirm the theory that what makes people
uncomfortable about capital punishment is not who is being executed but who is doing the executing.
Though citizens tend to react furiously over cases of serial murder and rape, overseas crimes rarely get attention
even if they are committed by Koreans, as in the case of Shin.
The execution of the British drug smuggler, Akmal Shaikh, by a Chinese firing squad on Dec. 29 stirred international anger,
but little attention was paid by the media and anti-death penalty petition groups in Korea. Most of the media reports focused on
the war of words between the United Kingdom and China. Some viewed the case as China's revenge on
Britain's opium trade in the 19th century. Internet boards were mostly filled with comments standing by the Chinese authorities.
Commentaries in newspapers also focused on the rising international status of China.
"Drug-related crimes are giving China a headache. It seems that the Chinese government is expressing its will that it won't negotiate
with foreign countries over such a grave issue," Kang Jun-young, professor of Chinese studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies,
told the Maeil Economic Daily.
As for the constitutionality of capital punishment, the Korean court did not provide a timeline or explanation about the postponement
of its decision. But a history of polls and surveys suggests that the court decision should not stand on the public opinion of a specific time.
The percentage of people in favor of the death sentence was below 50 percent until 2006, but since then it continued to climb,
up to nearly 70 percent early last year, as reports on serial killers filled evening TV news shows.
Minister Hints at Resuming Death Row Executions
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
2010.03.16
Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam hinted at resuming executions for those convicted of
``capital crimes,’’ breaking a 13-year-old virtual moratorium on the death penalty, Tuesday.
``I am considering setting up an execution facility at this prison,’’ Lee told reporters
during a visit to Cheongsong Prison, Gyeongsang Province, where serial killers,
murderers and repeat rapists are imprisoned.
``The purpose of such a facility is to carry out the death sentence,’’ said Lee,
whose signature determines whether death row inmates are executed.
However, the minister added that the resumption of the death penalty
will be reviewed with caution, taking into consideration factors such as
diplomatic relations and concerned parties nationwide.
Lee’s remarks followed the recent case involving a 13-year-old schoolgirl,
identified as Lee, who was abducted, raped and murdered allegedly
by convicted rapist Kim Kil-tae.
A recent poll conducted by the Youido Institute, a policy arm of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP),
showed 80 percent of people favored the death penalty.
A group of party stalwarts including floor leader An Sang-soo are also calling for
the resumption of executions. President Lee Myung-bak is promoting a law-and-order
government that is tough on serious crimes. Lee’s conservative rule came on the heels
of two consecutive liberal heads of state who agreed to put capital punishment on hold.
However, the actual resumption of executions won’t be easy as human rights groups are
already voicing their objections, arguing that Minister Lee’s overture runs counter to a
worldwide trend phasing out execution and instead introducing life sentences with no chance of parole.
Also the poll on any immediate resumption of capital punishment is at odds with
a recent 4-5 decision by the Constitutional Court to uphold the retention of capital punishment
compared to a 7-2 decision made 14 years ago. This was widely seen as a reflection of
a Korean society that is following the global trend to abolish the death sentence.
The penalty was once abused by military dictatorships to remove political foes
ㅡ numerous civilians and politicians lost their lives in the 1960s and 70s,
when iron-fisted military factions ruled the state, for participating in ``anti-government activities.’’
An unofficial moratorium was introduced on capital punishment in February 1998
when President Kim Dae-jung ㅡ who was once sentenced to death himself in 1980
but later pardoned ㅡ took office.
In 2007, Amnesty International categorized South Korea as having ``virtually abolished
capital punishment,’’ as it had not carried out executions since the hanging of 23 death-row
convicts in 1997.
A total of 920 people have been executed here since capital punishment was
legalized in 1948. There are still 57 inmates on death row.
According to Amnesty, 95 countries have not conducted executions for over
10 years, being categorized as ``abolitionist countries.’’ Fifty-eight nations ㅡ
including China, Saudi Arabia and the United the United States still actively enforce the death penalty.
Koreans Have Double Standard on Death Penalty
By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter
2010.05.01
The execution of a British drug smuggler in China last week has revealed that the issue of abolishing
the death penalty may be something that is "out of sight, out of mind" for Koreans.
The debate on putting to death domestic criminals is likely to heat up this year
as the Supreme Court failed to deliver its verdict on the matter on Dec. 29.
On Dec 30, representatives from 15 NGOs and religious groups held a press conference in Seoul
and urged the court to opt for the abolishment of capital punishment.
A total of 58 prisoners have been sentenced to death in South Korea, but the practice was suspended
after Kim Dae-jung was elected President in 1997. But this does not mean that Koreans have been immune
to death sentences in other nations.
In 2001, a South Korean citizen identified as Shin was executed in Harbin in eastern China for dealing drugs.
Three years later, another Korean man was executed for a murder. In both cases, the Korean government didn't
make an official petition to pardon the men, and the media and NGOs also showed little interest.
Currently there are 15 South Korean convicts in China with suspended death sentences, the Donga Ilbo has reported,
citing the Korean embassy in Beijing - most of them involved in drug cases. But there haven't been any petitions from
NGOs to the Chinese government or serious media coverage on those people.
The disparity in sympathy toward criminals in Korea and those in China seems to confirm the theory that what makes people
uncomfortable about capital punishment is not who is being executed but who is doing the executing.
Though citizens tend to react furiously over cases of serial murder and rape, overseas crimes rarely get attention
even if they are committed by Koreans, as in the case of Shin.
The execution of the British drug smuggler, Akmal Shaikh, by a Chinese firing squad on Dec. 29 stirred international anger,
but little attention was paid by the media and anti-death penalty petition groups in Korea. Most of the media reports focused on
the war of words between the United Kingdom and China. Some viewed the case as China's revenge on
Britain's opium trade in the 19th century. Internet boards were mostly filled with comments standing by the Chinese authorities.
Commentaries in newspapers also focused on the rising international status of China.
"Drug-related crimes are giving China a headache. It seems that the Chinese government is expressing its will that it won't negotiate
with foreign countries over such a grave issue," Kang Jun-young, professor of Chinese studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies,
told the Maeil Economic Daily.
As for the constitutionality of capital punishment, the Korean court did not provide a timeline or explanation about the postponement
of its decision. But a history of polls and surveys suggests that the court decision should not stand on the public opinion of a specific time.
The percentage of people in favor of the death sentence was below 50 percent until 2006, but since then it continued to climb,
up to nearly 70 percent early last year, as reports on serial killers filled evening TV news shows.
Minister Hints at Resuming Death Row Executions
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
2010.03.16
Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam hinted at resuming executions for those convicted of
``capital crimes,’’ breaking a 13-year-old virtual moratorium on the death penalty, Tuesday.
``I am considering setting up an execution facility at this prison,’’ Lee told reporters
during a visit to Cheongsong Prison, Gyeongsang Province, where serial killers,
murderers and repeat rapists are imprisoned.
``The purpose of such a facility is to carry out the death sentence,’’ said Lee,
whose signature determines whether death row inmates are executed.
However, the minister added that the resumption of the death penalty
will be reviewed with caution, taking into consideration factors such as
diplomatic relations and concerned parties nationwide.
Lee’s remarks followed the recent case involving a 13-year-old schoolgirl,
identified as Lee, who was abducted, raped and murdered allegedly
by convicted rapist Kim Kil-tae.
A recent poll conducted by the Youido Institute, a policy arm of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP),
showed 80 percent of people favored the death penalty.
A group of party stalwarts including floor leader An Sang-soo are also calling for
the resumption of executions. President Lee Myung-bak is promoting a law-and-order
government that is tough on serious crimes. Lee’s conservative rule came on the heels
of two consecutive liberal heads of state who agreed to put capital punishment on hold.
However, the actual resumption of executions won’t be easy as human rights groups are
already voicing their objections, arguing that Minister Lee’s overture runs counter to a
worldwide trend phasing out execution and instead introducing life sentences with no chance of parole.
Also the poll on any immediate resumption of capital punishment is at odds with
a recent 4-5 decision by the Constitutional Court to uphold the retention of capital punishment
compared to a 7-2 decision made 14 years ago. This was widely seen as a reflection of
a Korean society that is following the global trend to abolish the death sentence.
The penalty was once abused by military dictatorships to remove political foes
ㅡ numerous civilians and politicians lost their lives in the 1960s and 70s,
when iron-fisted military factions ruled the state, for participating in ``anti-government activities.’’
An unofficial moratorium was introduced on capital punishment in February 1998
when President Kim Dae-jung ㅡ who was once sentenced to death himself in 1980
but later pardoned ㅡ took office.
In 2007, Amnesty International categorized South Korea as having ``virtually abolished
capital punishment,’’ as it had not carried out executions since the hanging of 23 death-row
convicts in 1997.
A total of 920 people have been executed here since capital punishment was
legalized in 1948. There are still 57 inmates on death row.
According to Amnesty, 95 countries have not conducted executions for over
10 years, being categorized as ``abolitionist countries.’’ Fifty-eight nations ㅡ
including China, Saudi Arabia and the United the United States still actively enforce the death penalty.