South Korea: Plan on new execution chamber shelved

The government has virtually scrapped the much disputed plan of building a new execution chamber at Cheongsong Prison in North Gyeongsang Province, officials said.

The plan, devised by Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam after his visit to the prison in March, showed a clear indication that the government is considering breaking a 13-year-old moratorium on the death penalty. Strong backlash from domestic and international human rights activists followed.

"The plan has been suspended. But it does not necessarily mean it has been abandoned," a justice ministry official said. "Strong opposition from residents near the prison is the reason behind the suspension."

The official admitted the ministry is considering dropping the plan. Residents complained that a new execution facility will deal a blow to the image of the cozy county 290 kilometers southeast of Seoul, undermining the town’s draw as a tourist destination. Cheongsong Mayor Han Dong-soo officially demanded in March that the plan be halted.

The plan was spurred by the kidnapping, rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl by convicted rapist Kim Kil-tae early this year.

A series of horrific incidents at that time saw 80 % of the respondents in a poll by the ruling Grand National Party positive to the resumption of the death penalty, and drove the momentum to push ahead with the initiative.

Capital punishment was once abused by military dictators in the 1960s and 70s to remove political foes - a large number of civilians and politicians lost their lives. An unofficial moratorium was introduced on capital punishment in February 1998 when former President Kim Dae-jung, who was once sentenced to death himself in 1980 but later pardoned, took office.

In 2007, Amnesty International categorized South Korea as having "virtually abolished capital punishment," as it had not carried out executions since 1997.

A total of 920 people have been executed here since capital punishment was legalized in 1948. At present, there are still more than 50 inmates on death row.

According to Amnesty, 95 countries have not conducted executions for over 10 years and are categorized as "abolitionist countries." 58 nations, including China, Saudi Arabia and the United States, still enforce the death penalty.

Source: Korea Times, October 3, 2010