The Seoul High Court sentenced to death 23-year-old...

The Seoul High Court sentenced to death 23-year-old Hwang Ho-jin for having raped and killed three women. The death sentence was pronounced on Hwang Ho-jin amid strong and increasing debate in the nation about whether to abolish capital punishment. This was the first death sentence pronounced nationwide since the bill to eliminate capital punishment was introduced. In its ruling , the court said: "We are aware of the ongoing debate to abolish the death sentence, but the defendant's motives and circumstances warrant no other penalty except death."