Crimes Rekindle Debate Over Capital Punishment

[uledy.livejournal.com]

A recent spate of heinous crimes against children and women has ignited calls for the execution of the offenders, which Korea has shied away from for the past 15 years.

The brutal incidents, including the rape last week of a 7-year-old girl, have shocked the entire country and forced the government to strengthen related measures, including a wider use of chemical castration and a stepped-up clampdown on child pornography.

The Justice Ministry is considering extending the application of chemical castration to sex offenders who commit crimes against those under the age of 19. The current law is applicable in cases where the victims are under age 16.

But calls are growing that such measures are not enough. Proponents of the death penalty argue that murderers gave up their human rights when they trampled on those of the victims, stressing that taxpayer money should not be wasted on supporting their lives.


A recent survey conducted by pollster Hankook Research on 3,000 adults found that 64 percent of those questioned supported capital punishment while 18.5 percent were against it.

Opponents, however, challenge the effectiveness of the death penalty and stress equally crucial human rights for murderers, arguing that no state entity can determine whether a human being should cease to live.

Since December 1997 when the former Kim Young-sam government executed 23 convicts, Korea has not carried out any executions, for which Amnesty International classified Korea as an “abortionist in practice.”

The number of death row inmates in Korea stands at around 60. They have been convicted of killing more than 200 people combined. It is estimated that around 1.3 billion won ($1.15 million) is spent each year on keeping them in prison.

The ruling Saenuri Party’s presidential candidate Park Geun-hye voiced the need to maintain the death penalty as it can serve as a strong warning against would-be criminals.

“Capital punishment should be maintained because it tells criminals that they too can die if they harm others,” said Rep. Park in a meeting with reporters.

Since it ruled capital punishment constitutional in 1963, the Supreme Court has remained consistent on its position in a series of lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. It has underscored its necessity to protect the lives of the majority of people in society.

Among those questioning capital punishment, first stipulated in the country’s penal code in 1953, were death row inmates. A 74-year-old fisherman lodged a suit in 2008 after being convicted of killing a couple and two women aboard his ship on two separate occasions while attempting to sexually assault the three women.

Whenever a horrendous murder case occurs, the debate over the execution resurfaces.

“Do the murderers have any right even to talk about their human rights? Think about the trauma the victims’ families would suffer from, perhaps for good,” said Joo Sung-joon, a 32-year-old office worker in Seoul.

“It is obviously helpful to prevent the recurrence of any brutal crimes. Crimes are repeated as our society is in general too lenient toward such murderers.”

Lee Sang-gap, a lawyer in Gwangju, opposes capital punishment.

“I also share the need to isolate those who committed atrocious crimes from our society permanently. But I don’t think we should definitely execute them for that purpose,” he said. “We can achieve their permanent isolation through life imprisonment without any reduction in their sentences or any parole.”

Lee stressed that what society should pay more attention to is how to continuously help the victims and their families overcome or manage their physical and mental problems in the long term.

“There are many families that ended up falling apart due to the crimes. The repercussions may last for a long time. We should put our heads together to provide more warm attention and care to them.”

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official remained cautious about the calls, stressing that it is a matter that requires a “broader social consensus.”

“We are not at a stage where we will consider reviving capital punishment. But we are carefully watching how people in our society think about this,” said the official, declining to be named.

“The implementation of the death penalty is not a matter the government unilaterally pushes for. This is something that calls for social agreement as to whether the punishment is effective in deterring the crimes.”

oop, i think they mean "abolitionist in practice" not "aboritionist in practice".

Source: The Korea Herald

so, omona, y'all abolitionists? retributivists? what?

Comments

[beanii.livejournal.com]

The dead doesn't remember their crime.

[brianathebard.livejournal.com]

I'm against the death penalty in any case, but they most certainly do not deserve freedom. It costs the public less money to keep them alive, anyway.

[supplanter.livejournal.com]

It costs the public less money to keep them alive, anyway.

Where are you getting that from?

[brianathebard.livejournal.com]

Amnesty International (http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts/death-penalty-cost)

There are far more resources needed for an inmate in death row than an inmate for a life sentence. They have separate housing, more guards, and more hearings, so it costs the taxpayers more money. Plus, I'm a pro-life Christian so it's just part of my principles.

[supplanter.livejournal.com]

The greatest costs associated with the death penalty occur prior to and during trial, not in post-conviction proceedings. Even if all post-conviction proceedings (appeals) were abolished, the death penalty would still be more expensive than alternative sentences.

Well, it costs the taxpayers more to attempt to pin the death penalty on them, at least. I don't know if you can extrapolate this to the SK system, though. Interesting nonetheless.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Death Penalty, Yay or Nay?

In most case I'm against it but for mass murders like Anders Breivik, I say hang them.

[geonitacka.livejournal.com]

Yeah I share the same viewpoint.

Fuckheads need to be dealt with.

All else, prison, mental hospital, etc.

[frantastic.livejournal.com]

agreed

[tokidoki88.livejournal.com]

Yay in case of mass murders and serial killers.

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

I'd add serial rapists to the list, but p much all rapists who rape and get away with it (and most of them do) will do it again and again. until they are imprisoned or killed. frankly they should all be hung by their testicles.

[geonitacka.livejournal.com]

All I know is Chemical Castration doesn't really work. It has in some cases, but for the most part it's all mental so therefore, the lack of the physical doesn't change the foundation of these kinds of people.

It's one of those topics that the line is thin. Oh social issues.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I remember reading something where abusers went back to doing what they did even after castration.

[muzegrey.livejournal.com]

Rapists can still rape even if they are castrated. And most rapists cannot be "reformed" no matter what some people might say. You cannot teach someone not to rape. Rape is not about sexual desire - it is about power and force. People don't want to think there are true monsters out there but they do exist. And they should not see the light of day again.

[rosemaine.livejournal.com]

cannot agree more

[jasmineakaiumi.livejournal.com]

ia, I feel if they really wanted to rape someone they could do it without use of their own physical body parts.

[cagallisakura.livejournal.com]

"The Justice Ministry is considering extending the application of chemical castration to sex offenders who commit crimes against those under the age of 19. The current law is applicable in cases where the victims are under age 16."
why the fuck is there even an age limit. this should be done to ALL sex offenders, not just the ones who fuck up teens and little kids. whether it works or not is another discussion but seriously wtf.

"Proponents of the death penalty argue that murderers gave up their human rights when they trampled on those of the victims, stressing that taxpayer money should not be wasted on supporting their lives."
THIS. why are we paying to keep these fuckers alive.

I remember having to write for and against death penalty essays. Sure the against one had more points, but I didn't believe in anything I was writing.

[fuckurou.livejournal.com]

They need harsher sentences for regular sex crimes (against adult women; being drunk shouldn't be used as excuse), that would be better prevention than potential death penalty. Most big crime cases (murder, child abuse)that shook Korea involved repeat sex offenders.

[dharawal.livejournal.com]

The death penalty should be reserved for extreme cases, like mass murderers, where there is incontrovertible proof, otherwise no, because you risk the chance of killing an innocent person, and that's wrong.

Chemical castration doesn't work, rape isn't about sex, it's about power, you don't need a penis to rape someone.

Harsher penalties for sure, none of this being sentenced for 6 years and getting out in 18 months, fixed sentences.

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

Well if they treated rapists everywhere, like that woman in Spain (she set the guy who raped her daughter on FIRE after he taunted her about it.) and that woman in turkey (she shot her rapist, then beheaded him, and stuck his head in a public square), i bet there'd be aloooooot less rape. men rape because they KNOW they will get away with it. obv some are sociopaths and predators that would rape even at great risk to themselves (hell the risk might get them off more) but alot of men who rape are just opportunists and bullies that grew up in a society that told them they can take what they want if they have the power to do so and that they are entitled to woman's bodies.

[tiddlywinks103.livejournal.com]

I'm a supporter of the death penalty, especially in these kind of cases, so...Do you, SK.

[45s.livejournal.com]

no mercy for rapists.

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

amen (did you hear about that woman in spain who set her daughter's rapist on fire? or that lady in Turkey who shot her rapist and then CUT HIS HEAD OFF and stuck in a public square? I hope it came with a sign that said "this is what happens when u rape someone")

[45s.livejournal.com]

f'real. she's a shero tbh. true goon squad right there. hahahah

[hisjulliet.livejournal.com]

Rape is mostly about power and control, not sex. But I won't feel bad for the people who go under Chemical Castration.

[toomanysides.livejournal.com]

i'm against death penalty. if SK took rape more seriously and stop letting rapist off so easily...

[chibiyunie.livejournal.com]

I am for the death penalty. I don't know how the prisons in SK are, but they do not deserve to sit there and be taken care of.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

There's the dilemma. Most of my friends argue sexual abuse doesn't equate to murder so they should be exempt from capital punishment, and some times I agree with them. It's sad that we've been programmed in a way that sexual abuse is only taken seriously in extreme circumstances or like here when Children are involved.

[muzegrey.livejournal.com]

Rape murders someone. It kills the person they could have been without the trauma. It's worse in my book because the person has to keep living and rebuild everything that has been lost. It destroys future relationships, you can't even enjoy sex as much, you lose intimacy with everyone and it's just so painful to go through it day by day. Murder victims of course have still experienced something horrific too, but rape is no less than murder in my book.

[jetaime-pyon.livejournal.com]

this, this, this. that kind of lifelong trauma is a terrible torture. :/

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Repeat rapists for instance aren't on capital punishment and are sometimes releases back in society to commit the same acts. Rape is so common as well and sexual harassment is something you just either turn a blind eye to or ignore. It's really not right.

I'm still haunted by the article where it stated that Seoul Taxi drivers were known to take girls to secluded places before raping them, how can something that like that continue to happen:/

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

IMO rape is worse than murder. when you're dead you dont have to live with the memory of being murdered. obv those left behind suffer. but the pain of losing a loved one IMO is no worse than the pain of having your bodily autonomy stolen from you. and being humiliated and also very possibly physically injured and mentally scarred. not all rapes go "nicely" alot of them involve violence and injury to the body. the reason society takes rape so lightly is because women's bodies are already considered public property and men are entitled to them if they are: nice to said girl even if she is not attracted to him, spent alot of money on the girl, just couldnt "help" themselves cause of what she was wearing, she was drunk, she was "leading" him on, she is his wife, she is his girlfriend of several months and hasnt agreed to sex yet, she didnt say "no". etc etc and on and on and on. because we live in a rape culture its so easy for society to excuse rape. therefore how can it possibly be deserving of such harsh punishment? the sad fact is most rapists get away with their crimes scot free.

[xiahjunsubias.livejournal.com]

"Opponents, however, challenge the effectiveness of the death penalty and stress equally crucial human rights for murderers, arguing that no state entity can determine whether a human being should cease to live."

I am a death penalty opponent. I believe that criminals (murderers, rapists, sex offenders etc) give up their civil rights and some human rights. I sympathize and empathize with having my tax money go to support this monsters in prison. However, the reason I am against the death penalty is because I believe the justice system is flawed. Too often we hear people who had been executed being found innocent after the fact. It is "easier" to provide reparation/compensation for an innocent person who was in prison than for someone who's been executed. I would suggest a significant term/life in prison plus hard labor. They've got to repay society for the tax money used to support them in prison.

[izabera.livejournal.com]

We need to accept some people can't be cured of their evil urges and the public needs to be protected from them.

Personally I'm for life imprisonment meaning life, too many stories of dangerous people re-offending when they're released.

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

Its too bad they dont reat rapists like that woman in Spain and that woman in turkey, i bet there'd be aloooooot less rape if they did. men rape because they KNOW they will get away with it. yes some of these men might be sociopaths and regular predators who would still rape at great risk to themselves, but plenty more are just opportunists and bullies. they grew up in a society that told them they can take what they want if they have the power to do so, and that they are entitled to woman's bodies. and part of rape culture means no matter what there is always an excuse for the rapist to rape and for the victim to be at fault. and like I read an article the other day about rape stats in just the US basically tons of rapes arent even reported, of those that are only half end in arrests, of those arrests only some are prosecuted, of those prosecutions very few rapists actually spend any time in jail at all and those that do dont stay there long. I have no doubt this is even worse in Korea. there needs to be harsher penalties for rape AS WELL AS consent and boundaries being a part of sex education. so many women dont even know they were raped because of all those shitty rape myths and myths about women's sexuality and what consent IS. and So many guys dont even think they did anything WRONG because they have been so systematically taught to completely ignore women's body language or emotions or even their outright saying "no". I mean even in the media you have jokes about sober guys sleeping with drunk girls. which to me is also an issue of consent. even when the girl is not black out drunk. thats how deep seated rape culture is. and I'm using examples of the US and not all of them apply to SK for sure but I am willing to bet alot of them do. (not just SK either but all over the WORLD)

That said. I do have issue with the death penalty within the US because the overwhelming majority of men on death row are black men. i dont think all of them are innocent, most of them prob arent, but i highly doubt there are more black men committing mass murder than white men (if history has proven anything its more likely the opposite), rather what happens is black men are more harshly punished for the same or even lesser crimes that white men commit. and many black men have been innocent of all crimes and still sent to their death. So I cannot fully support the death penalty for THAT reason. But this isnt really an issue in a homogeneous society like South Korea. furthermore, death penalty or otherwise, rape needs to be punished waaaaaay more harshly than it is. noot just in SK but EVERYWHERE.