ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Church continues to fight for life amidst increased support for death penalty

Incheon (Agenzia Fides) – The South Korean Supreme Court has recently declared the death penalty as an admissible form of punishment in the country. However, the Catholic community will not surrender and will continue “to raise awareness for the repeal of capital punishment and promote respect for human life at all levels in order to help the culture of life prevail in the country.” This is what Fides has been told by Bishop Boniface Choi Ki-san Bishop of Incheon, newly elected President of the Commission for Education within the Korean Bishops' Conference, at the end of a week of Assembly Meetings.
The bishop told Fides: "Recently, the Constitutional Court of Korea ruled that the death penalty is not unconstitutional. It is very sad, but this does not necessarily mean that the death penalty will again be carried out with ease in Korea. There have been no executions for 12 years and the country is now among those regarded as' de facto abolitionist.' The decision has, however, brought about a resurgence of those in favor of executions. The recent incident of a young man who brutally murdered a girl has caused uproar among public opinion and many, even some politicians, have started calling for the death penalty for the murderer.”
Faced with this situation, the Prelate says, “the Church will continue to support the struggle for the official and definitive abolition of capital punishment in the country and defend life, from conception until its natural end. We will do it with public statements, but also with awareness and the education of children and young people, to increase the value and the culture of life in the country.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/3/2010)