Handonghun "Death Penalty Is Not a Simple Issue... Life Imprisonment Without Parole, a Strongly Considered Option"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon expressed a cautious stance regarding the rising public opinion for the execution of death sentences against heinous criminals following incidents such as the stabbing rampage in Sillim-dong, stating that "this is not a simple issue."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, Minister Han stated at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session in response to a related inquiry by Assemblyman Cho Jung-hoon of the Transition Korea party, "The death penalty is an area that requires philosophical consideration."

Minister Han said, "The death penalty is also very powerful in diplomatic matters," adding, "If the death penalty is carried out, diplomatic relations with the European Union (EU) could be seriously severed." He also mentioned, "The decision on the constitutionality of the death penalty is imminent. Our society must find a way forward after the decision."

Regarding the introduction of a life sentence without parole system into the criminal law, Minister Han said, "It is a meaningful option that can be seriously considered," expressing agreement with the purpose of a life sentence without parole. He added, "I believe that for monsters who are unacceptable to society, a method of permanent isolation is necessary."

About Jo Mo (33), who carried out a random stabbing rampage in the bustling area of Sillim-dong, Seoul, Minister Han described it as a case of a "lone wolf," often seen in advanced countries like the United States in mass shooting incidents. He said, "I think it is time to prepare defensive measures while fully considering restrictions on basic rights." A lone wolf refers to an individual who commits crimes alone due to personal resentment against society without belonging to any specific organization. Predicting such crimes is almost impossible, making counter-terrorism measures more difficult than for typical terrorism.

Meanwhile, during his attendance at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session in the morning, Minister Han criticized the Democratic Party's claim that the testimony of former Gyeonggi Province Peace Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young, who was arrested and indicted in connection with the Ssangbangwool Group's illegal remittance to North Korea, was inconsistent due to prosecutorial coercion, calling it "the worst judicial obstruction abusing power and behavior close to stalking."

Regarding the progress of the prosecution's investigation into former Deputy Governor Lee, he explained, "We uncovered the criminal charges of giving tens of billions in slush funds to North Korea and indicted him, and the trial has proceeded quickly to the point where a guilty verdict has already been issued." He added, "Currently, we are investigating whether there are additional related parties, including Lee Jae-myung (then Governor of Gyeonggi Province)."

Minister Han pointed out, "In such a situation, the Democratic Party went to the prosecution office to lie down in protest, organized campaigns to send money for detention fees, issued statements, contacted families, and pressured them to retract their testimonies." He said, "In the history of the Republic of Korea, I have never seen the ruling party staging an outside force protest to try to overturn testimonies favorable to their side."

He added, "Acts that attempt to obstruct investigations targeting their own side by abusing power should not be done and cannot succeed," and "Preventing such acts is the role of the Minister of Justice."

Earlier, the Democratic Party claimed that the prosecution conducted inhumane, fabricated investigations and false media plays related to the investigation of former Gyeonggi Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young. On the 24th, Park Beom-gye, chairman of the party's Countermeasures Committee Against Prosecutorial Dictatorship and Political Oppression, and others visited the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office in protest.

Minister Han also commented on Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's proposal for a "roll-call vote on the motion to arrest a member of the National Assembly," saying, "If a motion to arrest oneself is raised, whether to approve or reject it is a very simple matter," adding, "If you just don't want to give up your privileges, you can say so."

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