SOUTH KOREA:

Human Rights Panel to Advise Repeal of Death Penalty


Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reached a general consensus that the South Korean government should abrogate capital punishment, according to sources Monday.

The government panel convened a session of all members to discuss the matter after a group of lawmakers recently presented a bill aimed at introducing a life imprisonment system without parole instead of abolishing the death penalty to the National Assembly.

Although they differed on complementary measures, all 10 members of the advisory body virtually agreed that capital punishment should be eliminated, a commission member said.

"Life imprisonment without parole could be harsher than the death penalty," said Lee Hae-hak, one of the members.

However, the NHRC will likely make a formal decision on the issue in a week or 2 when the panel's top position, currently vacant, is filled by a new president.

(source: The Korea Times)

March 29


SOUTH KOREA:

South Korean justice minister opposes abolishing death penalty?


South Korea's justice minister said Tuesday he opposed moves by lawmakers to abolish the death penalty.

"If one deprives others of their lives, one should pay for it with his life," Kim Seung-kyu told reporters, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. "Punishments are not just about rehabilitation, but also about paying the price."

A parliamentary committee is considering a bill to abolish capital punishment, replacing the death penalty with a more strictly applied life sentence. The National Assembly was expected to vote on it soon.

Currently a defendant given a life sentence can expect a request for parole to be considered after 10 years.

"The life of a criminal is precious, but so is that of the victim," Kim was quoted as saying.

Kim said life imprisonment is a more inhumane penalty than the death penalty because the convicted has no hope of ever being free again.

At least 59 people are on death row in South Korea, but no prisoners have been executed since former President Kim Dae-jung took office in 1998, Yonhap said.

(source: The China Post)