The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) stated that as the country approaches 30 years of suspended executions, there is a need to advance institutional discussions on abolishing the death penalty.

Marking the 24th World Day Against the Death Penalty today (October 10), NHRC Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho issued a statement saying, "South Korea has not carried out an execution since December 30, 1997, meaning next year will mark 30 years since executions were halted."

Chairperson Ahn stated, "The experience of the past 30 years goes beyond a mere 'suspension of sentence execution'; it is a valuable asset proving that public safety and the criminal justice system can be stably maintained without actually carrying out capital punishment," adding, "It is now time to take discussions on the legal retention of the death penalty a step further based on this experience."

He also emphasized that the trend toward abolishing the death penalty continues within the international community.

According to Amnesty International, as of the end of last year, 145 countries—accounting for nearly three-quarters of all nations worldwide—have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice.

Chairperson Ahn stressed that discussions regarding the death penalty must also give important consideration to the suffering of violent crime victims and their families, as well as the public demand to live in a society safe from crime.

However, he pointed out that guaranteeing the rights of victims and their families while strengthening the social safety net must be examined separately from the issue of whether the state should maintain a system that deprives human life as a punishment.

He cited the "irreversibility" of the death penalty, noting that once carried out, it cannot be restored through any post-trial or judicial procedure.

He recommended, "The government and the National Assembly should review legislative and institutional directions regarding the abolition of the death penalty based on our society's accumulated experience, international human rights standards, and perspectives on crime victim protection and public safety," adding, "There is also a need to jointly pursue discussions on joining the UN's Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty."

(Photo: Yonhap News)