Hong Jun-pyo to Jin Joong-kwon: "Is the death penalty far-right populism? Not befitting an intellectual"

Hong Jun-pyo Proposes Bill Mandating Death Penalty for Heinous Criminals

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo is delivering a congratulatory speech at the special lecture commemorating the opening of the 21st National Assembly, held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 9th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo criticized former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon, who condemned the 'Mandatory Death Penalty Execution Bill' that Hong himself proposed, telling him to "exercise restraint."

On the 2nd, Hong posted on his Facebook, "I saw someone criticize the Mandatory Death Penalty Execution Bill as far-right populism," writing this.

He said, "The term 'far-right' is generally used to refer to totalitarianism," and questioned, "Are the governors of the 30 U.S. states that carry out the death penalty all totalitarians? Is Japan, which executes the death penalty every year, a totalitarian country?"

He continued, "The person often uses the term 'X-gae' (a Korean profanity) and barks incessantly, biting indiscriminately," adding, "While opposing the bill on the grounds of the possibility of wrongful convictions is somewhat reasonable, calling it far-right populism is unbecoming of an intellectual, so I urge restraint."

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 30th of last month, lawmaker Hong proposed a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act that mandates the execution of the death penalty for those convicted of heinous and anti-human crimes.

In response, former professor Jin criticized Hong on his Facebook the same day, saying, "This is crazy. It's completely backwards. This is why conservatism is failing. After being expelled from the party, it seems he is seeking survival through far-right populism."

He added, "A lack of philosophy and imagination. This is why they are called reactionaries," and said, "Currently, retrial cases due to wrongful convictions are becoming an issue. The Hwaseong 8th murder case, Yakchon Five-way Intersection murder case, Samrye Nara Supermarket case, and Nakdong Riverside murder case all involved people without money or education who were wrongfully accused and served sentences."

He further pointed out, "In the Samrye Nara Supermarket case, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye was a jury judge and apologized to the victims for the wrongful conviction," and "In the Hwaseong 8th murder case, at least the real culprit, Lee Chun-jae, was alive, so the wrongfully accused could be exonerated."

Finally, former professor Jin said, "Suppose there was someone wrongfully convicted of a heinous crime and executed. Lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo should propose a way to bring back those who died because of the law he created."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.