South Korea
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- presidential republic
- CONSTITUTION
- October 29, 1987
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on elements of European, Anglo-American, and Chinese codes
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, National Assembly (Kukhoe)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, judges appointed by the President and ratified by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court
RELIGIONS
Christians 26%, Buddhists 23%, none 49%
From the country
JANUARY 23, 2007South KoreaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH KOREA. EXECUTED FOR TREASON, ACTIVISTS ARE POSTHUMOUSLY ACQUITTED
eight pro-democracy activists were posthumously acquitted of treason charges, more than 30 years after they were executed. The Seoul Central District Court said the activists were not guilty of forming an underground party aiming to overthrow the authorit
- JANUARY 11, 2007South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SERIAL KILLER CHUNG NAM-GYU SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOUTH KOREA
serial killer, Chung Nam-gyu (37) was sentenced to death at an appeal trial in South Korea.
- JANUARY 1, 2007South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment is provided for 103 crimes:
Capital punishment is provided for 103 crimes:
- NOVEMBER 24, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. TOP COURT REJECTS APPEAL AGAINST DEATH SENTENCE FOR SOUTH KOREAN
Japan’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a South Korean man sentenced to death for killing two people in 1995 in Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures, a move that will let his death sentence stand.
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. DEATH PENALTY IMPOSED ON MAN WHO KILLED 13
convicted serial killer Chung Nam-kyu was sentenced to death by a district court in Seoul, South Korea.
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF WIFE, 3 SONS
the Supreme Court of South Korea sentenced to death a man for the murder of his wife and three sons.
MAY 8, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH KOREA. RIGHTS PANEL TO LOOK INTO CASE OF NORTH KOREAN ON DEATH ROW
South Korea's state human rights panel said it will investigate the case of a North Korean citizen who is allegedly on death row in the communist country.
- APRIL 28, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR SEEKS TO STOP BROTHER'S EXECUTION
North Korean defector Son Jong Hoon recently received the devastating news from his communist homeland: his brother was sentenced to death on charges of spying for rival South Korea.
- APRIL 27, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. SERIAL RAPIST SENTENCED TO DEATH
the Cheongju District Court, South Korea, sentenced to death a 30-year old man identified by his surname Yang, convicted of who committed 37 sexual assaults across the country between November 2004 and February 2006.
- APRIL 4, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY, CATHOLIC, OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS URGE GOVERNMENT
the Pan-Religion Union for the Abolition of the Death Penalty held a press conference in South Korea’s National Assembly building and released a statement calling for an urgent end to capital punishment.
- APRIL 3, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. MAJORITY SUPPORT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, POLL
according to a nationwide poll conducted by a South Korean broadcasting company in March 2006, 46.1 percent of the 625 respondents supported capital punishment, while 37.9 percent opposed it.
- MARCH 22, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. SERIAL KILLER SUPPORTS DEATH PENALTY
serial killer Yoo Young-chul said he objected to a recent move to abolish capital punishment in South Korea. Yoo's claim came amid controversy about the death penalty, which reemerged following the Justice Ministry's consideration to replace capital punis