Jin Joong-kwon "Death Penalty Revival? Hong Joon-pyo's Time Flows Backwards"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized People Power Party lawmaker Hong Jun-pyo, who advocated for the reinstatement of the death penalty, calling it a "lack of political imagination."

On the 1st, Jin shared an article on his Facebook about People Power Party presidential pre-candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and lawmaker Hong engaging in a heated debate over the reinstatement of the death penalty, stating, "Hong Jun-pyo's time flows backward." He added, "He tries to fill the lacking vision of the future with memories of the past."

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon posted on his Facebook on the 1st, criticizing Hong Joon-pyo, a People Power Party lawmaker, who advocated for the reinstatement of the death penalty. Photo by former professor Jin.

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, lawmaker Hong posted on his Facebook, saying about a man in his 20s who sexually assaulted and murdered a 20-month-old infant, "Shouldn't that guy be sentenced to death? If I become president, I will definitely execute such a guy."

In response, on the 1st, presidential candidate Yoon, visiting the Central Association of the Korean Senior Citizens in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was asked, "What do you think about lawmaker Hong's remarks?" He replied, "For the president, who is the head of the executive branch, to comment on judicial enforcement related to criminal punishment is somewhat Duterte-style," adding, "If the system cannot properly respond to heinous criminals, the president should understand the problem well and cooperate with the National Assembly to create a system."

Regarding Yoon comparing him to President Duterte, lawmaker Hong issued another statement. He said, "Comparing me to Duterte is a misfire," and countered, "President Moon Jae-in is Duterte, and you are Duterte's henchman."

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines mentioned by the two, promoted the reinstatement of the death penalty as a core pledge to eradicate crime and corruption when he took office in 2016.

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