South Korea
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist de facto
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · According to a survey released in 1999 by Gallup Korea,...
- News items in the archive
- 254
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
South Korea is classified as Abolitionist de facto in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 254 news items on South Korea, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JULY 16, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who has only a...
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who has only a few months left in office, said this was the most difficult time of his life
- JUNE 21, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In Japan, prison inmates will be given a rare privilege...
In Japan, prison inmates will be given a rare privilege to watch the World Cup [soccer - from May 31 to June 30] matches on television
- JUNE 13, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament approved a resolution calling...
The European Parliament approved a resolution calling on the parliaments of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to intensify their efforts for a rapid abolition of the death penalty and for the introduction of a moratorium on executions
- JUNE 6, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
A bilateral treaty on extradition of suspects and criminal...
A bilateral treaty on extradition of suspects and criminal defendants between Japan and South Korea will take effect June 21 following an exchange of ratification documents by Tokyo and Seoul, the Foreign Ministry said
- MAY 29, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In Japan a House of Councillors plenary session unanimously...
In Japan a House of Councillors plenary session unanimously approved an extradition treaty between Japan and South Korea to take effect during the month-long World Cup soccer finals starting on May 31
- APRIL 25, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
South Korea voted against the resolution 2002/77 on...
South Korea voted against the resolution 2002/77 on the death penalty at the 58th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 8, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Japan and South Korea signed a criminal extradition...
Japan and South Korea signed a criminal extradition treaty that they plan to enforce ahead of the soccer World Cup finals, to be jointly hosted by the two countries from May 31 to June 30
- MARCH 5, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The National Police Agency (NPA) recently disciplined...
The National Police Agency (NPA) recently disciplined two police officers for their negligence of duty regarding China's execution of a South Korean drug trafficker in 2001, NPA officials said
- FEBRUARY 23, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In a move that is expected to provide a momentum for...
In a move that is expected to provide a momentum for the anti-capital punishment movement, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court's death sentence for a convicted murderer
- FEBRUARY 13, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
A North Korean defector who made headlines in 2000...
A North Korean defector who made headlines in 2000 when he decided to return home in search of his wife has escaped a second time after finding that she and most of his other relatives were killed in retaliation for his earlier defection
- JANUARY 16, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
A Chinese court sentenced a South Korean drug trafficker...
A Chinese court sentenced a South Korean drug trafficker to death
- JANUARY 1, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In 1996, the Constitutional Court ruled 7-2 that the...
In 1996, the Constitutional Court ruled 7-2 that the death penalty was constitutional
- JANUARY 1, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment is provided for 103 crimes, 19 crimes,...
Capital punishment is provided for 103 crimes, 19 crimes, such as murder and espionage, under the constitution and 84 crimes under the National Security Law and five other laws
- JANUARY 1, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
On october 5, 2001 the National Police Agency announced...
On october 5, 2001 the National Police Agency announced that it has decided to start an intensive campaign against organized crime
- JANUARY 1, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Ministry of Justice revealed that as of October...
The Ministry of Justice revealed that as of October 2002 there were 60 people on death row
- JANUARY 1, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
According to the Justice Ministry 39 people were put...
According to the Justice Ministry 39 people were put to death under the Roh Tae-woo government and 57 under the Kim Young-sam administration
- JANUARY 1, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The 2002 World Cup soccer finals that Japan and South...
The 2002 World Cup soccer finals that Japan and South Korea co-hosted led the two countries to sign an extradition pact requiring both nations to hand over suspects in crimes that carry over a one-year prison sentence or the death penalty, upon request of
- DECEMBER 28, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reprimanded...
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reprimanded five officials including Political Charges d' Affaires at the Korean Embassy to China, Lee Kyu-hyung, over the bungled handling of the execution [in China] of a Korean national known as Shin for drug r
- DECEMBER 4, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) said...
The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) said that it would try to limit the government anti-terror body's investigative powers in a bid to prevent the possible abuse of power
- NOVEMBER 28, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Chinese government officially denied that police...
The Chinese government officially denied that police had tortured South Korean drug traffickers in the process of their investigation
- NOVEMBER 27, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
South Korea and China agreed to sign a pact on consular...
South Korea and China agreed to sign a pact on consular affairs obliging both sides to give immediate notification when authorities arrest each other's citizens on criminal charges
- NOVEMBER 27, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Korean government finalized its anti-terrorism...
The Korean government finalized its anti-terrorism bill at the weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by President Kim Dae-jung, calling for at least two-year jail terms for terrorists and those who instigate or connive in related activities
- NOVEMBER 26, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Korean government and ruling Millennium Democratic...
The Korean government and ruling Millennium Democratic Party agreed on provisions for an anti terrorism bill, which includes sentences of five years to life imprisonment and the death penalty for people engaged in biological or chemical attacks against so
- NOVEMBER 26, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The National Human Rights Commission an independent...
The National Human Rights Commission an independent state human rights body, comprising 11 members was launched
- NOVEMBER 23, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
"The establishment of a Human Rights Commission has...
"The establishment of a Human Rights Commission has scope to be a great step forward for human rights protection and promotion in South Korea," Amnesty International said two days ahead of the Commission's inauguration
- NOVEMBER 22, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
While a majority of lawmakers favour abolition of the...
While a majority of lawmakers favour abolition of the death penalty, the nation's largest group of attorneys said it opposed the move
- NOVEMBER 20, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Grand National Party (GNP) announced that its special...
The Grand National Party (GNP) announced that its special investigation group sent to China to probe diplomatic mishaps regarding the execution of a Korean national named Shin and imprisonment of three others, had uncovered more mistakes made by different
- NOVEMBER 19, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Following the diplomatic humiliation over the execution...
Following the diplomatic humiliation over the execution of a Korean drug trafficker identified as Shin by the Chinese government, the government summoned home Shin Hyong-geun, general consul at the embassy to China and Jang Seok-chol, head of the consulat
- NOVEMBER 19, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Korean Society in China (KSIC), which represents...
The Korean Society in China (KSIC), which represents some 200,000 nationals residing in China, insisted in a statement that officials at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as local legation representatives, are responsible for the diplomatic g
- NOVEMBER 16, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The public debate over the abolition of the death penalty...
The public debate over the abolition of the death penalty was rekindled after a total of 155 lawmakers signed a bill to ban capital punishment in October