7 Major Religious Leaders Issue Joint Statement... "Abolishing the Death Penalty is a Global Trend"

On the afternoon of the 14th, participants hold placards at a press conference held by religious, civic, and social organizations regarding the Constitutional Court's public hearing on the death penalty in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] As a public hearing is held at the Constitutional Court regarding the retention or abolition of the death penalty, leaders of the seven major religious denominations have issued a joint statement urging the abolition of the death penalty.

The joint statement was signed by key figures from the seven major religious groups, including Wonhaeng Sunim, the Chief Executive of Jogye Order and Chairperson of the Korean Religious Leaders Council; Son Jin-woo, President of Sungkyunkwan and Chairperson of the Korean Conference of Religion and Peace; Pastor Lee Hong-jung, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK); Archbishop Kim Hee-jung of Gwangju Archdiocese, Chairperson of the Catholic Bishops' Conference Committee on Church Unity and Interreligious Dialogue; Na Sang-ho, Director of Won Buddhism’s Central Administrative Office; Park Sang-jong, Leader of Cheondoism; and Kim Ryeong-ha, President of the Korean Council of Indigenous Religions.

In their joint statement, they said, “Those who commit crimes and cause harm to others must receive appropriate punishment. However, the state must not adopt the same brutal method of taking life as revenge by claiming that those who commit heinous crimes deserve to die.” They criticized, “While the global trend is toward the abolition of the death penalty and the permanent suspension of executions, South Korea’s laws and systems related to the death penalty have seen no change. Since the 15th National Assembly through the 21st National Assembly, nine bills for the 'Special Act on the Abolition of the Death Penalty' have been proposed, but none have ever passed the Judiciary Committee.”

They added, “In this context, it is welcome that the Constitutional Court is holding a hearing and preparing a decision three years and six months after the third constitutional petition on the death penalty was filed. The representatives of the seven major religious denominations earnestly await a ruling declaring the death penalty unconstitutional, respecting all living beings and affirming the equal dignity of all people.”

South Korea is classified as an 'Abolitionist in Practice Country,' having suspended executions for over ten years. Since the last execution of 23 death row inmates on December 30, 1997, nearly 25 years have passed without any executions.

Among the 193 UN member states, 108 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, 8 countries have abolished it for ordinary crimes excluding military law, and 28 countries, including South Korea, are abolitionist in practice. Overall, 75% of countries have abolished or do not carry out the death penalty.

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