18th 두번째 토픽 입니다

[＊마이존＊]

Serial killer reignites capital punishment debate

Amid a serial murder scandal that is shaking the country, voices are calling for the revival of capital punishment, which has been unused for the past few years. Amnesty International, a human rights group, classified Korea as “abolitionist in practice” in 2007 because the country has not executed anyone in the past 12 years, though capital punishment is still in valid.

Capital punishment in Korea was last carried out under the Kim Young-sam government on Dec. 20, 1997 when 23 people were executed. Presently, 58 are on death row, theoretically awaiting execution, and 19 are serving life sentences after receiving commutation, according to the Justice Ministry. As the police yesterday rounded off the crime scene investigation regarding serial killer Kang Ho-soon, who admitted to killing seven women in the past two years, many are demanding that Kang be sentenced to death and the sentence be carried out. During the two-day crime scene investigation, Kang calmly demonstrated his crimes, without signs of regret or agitation, said witnesses at the scene. If accusations against Kang turn out to be true, present criminal law provides that he be handed down the maximum legal sentence.

Murder, when combined with rape, is subject to the death penalty or life imprisonment, with corpse abandonment adding another seven years. A well-known serial killer, Yoo Young-chul, was given a death sentence in 2005 for killing 20 people, tearing their bodies to pieces and burying them. Another murderer, Chung Nam-gyu, was also given the sentence in 2007 for killing 13 people and injuring 20. The Justice Ministry is skeptical about carrying out the irrevocable criminal sentence, despite mounting public demand. “In the past scandalous serial murder cases, public opinion also demanded the death of the killers, but it was just not enough to resist the world wide legal trend of capital punishment abolishment,” said a Justice Ministry official. “The very nature of the death sentence is controversial, and Kang’s case alone will probably not reverse the present flow of criminal punishment.” Yoo and Chung have been imprisoned for several years as their death sentences have not been carried out.

As of December 2007, 102 countries have abolished the death sentence and 31, including Korea, are classified as “abolitionist in practice,” according to figures from the AI. Only 64 countries actually execute the maximum criminal penalty. Those who sympathize with the ministry’s stance point out the global trend against capital punishment, the possibility of judicial misjudgment and the value of human life.

1. "Are death penalty or life imprisonment effective deterrence for murder and other brutal crimes?

2. What are the advantages and drawbacks of each compared to the other?"

3. Opponents argue that the core of the punishment is to educate and enlighten prisoners return to normal state, and executing death penalty without education and enlightenment is not right. There is also a chance to misjudgment. Do you agree to kill the human?

[Linzy]

헛,, 닉네임이 마이존- ㄷㄷㄷ ㅋㅋ

[Kelley86]

앗 Linzy언니당~~~ >< 저 2주 빠졌었는데~(퍼버버버벅~ Linzy언니가 때리는 소리 ㅋㅋㅋ) 이따 뵈어용~~♡ㅋㅋ

[james Heo]

나도 퍼버버버벅~

[Linzy]

퍽! (난 한대로 끝낸다-)

[Miki_Miki]

윽! (난 린지한테 한대 맞고 죽는다-)