Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Cult Murderer

Amid controversies over the abolishment of capital punishment, the Supreme Court has judged that capital punishment is effective within the current judiciary system. The 2nd division of the Supreme Court said Wednesday that it has upheld the death sentence against a member of a doomsday cult called Youngsaenggyo. The 62-year-old man, identified as Ra, was convicted of killing six other followers who broke away from the religious group or defamed it from 1990 to 1992.

It was the second death penalty sentence this year, following a sentence against a man, identified as Kim who was arrested and indicted on charges of killing his mother as well as his grandmother. Currently, 59 people including Ra are on death row.

The justices said in their ruling that the death penalty is a capital punishment that deprives criminals of their life and it is a very exceptional punishment on which the rational judiciary system of a civilized country can decide. Death penalty is permitted only when a special and objective situation justifies the punishment, given the responsibility of the crime and the aim of the punishment, said the ruling. The accused in this case could not avoid capital punishment because he planned the killings elaborately and committed the crime brutally without a sense of guilt, stated the justices.

The religious sector and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International’s South Korean Section have been waging a campaign to abolish the death penalty. Law scholars show conflicting views on the issue. Korea is among 78 countries that have the capital punishment system. No death penalties have been carried out since 23 heinous criminals were executed altogether in December 1997.

Justice Minister Kim Seung-kyu dodged to directly comment on the abolishment of death penalty instantly after taking office, saying that it is a matter that should be carefully reviewed. Justice Kim Young-ran once said during her hearing that capital punishment should be eliminated because it is a system that ultimately abandons rehabilitation.

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