[Deathpenalty]death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 23


SOUTH KOREA:

Lawmakers bid to end nation's death penalty


Representative Yoo Ihn-tae of the governing Uri Party yesterday submitted
a bill that seeks to abolish the death penalty. The bill is sponsored by a
bipartisan group of 150 lawmakers.

The legislation would end capital punishment, stipulated in Korea's
criminal codes, and replace the death penalty with life-term imprisonment
without the possibility of either parole or a pardon.

Mr. Yoo said the bill is likely to pass the National Assembly because more
than half of the 151 members of the Uri Party support it, and the
10-member Democratic Labor Party is also backing the change.

The Uri Party holds a simple majority in the 299-seat National Assembly.
Strong opposition, however, is expected from both the legal community and
conservative lawmakers.

(source: JoongAng Daily)