14 September 2023
By Daeun Lee
Minister of Justice, Donghun Han, recently showed to a press interview to address the actions of incarcerated individuals, including instances of assault against correctional officers. He announced that he had assigned personnel to thoroughly investigate the recent conduct of these prisoners.
Minister Han also brought up the topic of execution, which had not been carried out for 25 years. He explained that this decision took into account the opinions of the public and the prevailing circumstances across the nation. The number of prisoners currently on death row stands at 59 people.
Among them is YoungChul Ryu, a notorious serial killer responsible for the deaths of 20 individuals, including both elderly people and prostitutes. Ryu has been incarcerated for approximately 18 years in Daegu prison. Another inmate facing the death penalty is Hosun Kang, a pleasure killer who abducted and murdered eight people, including his wife, mother-in-law, and random family members.
Kang remains alive after serving 14 years in Seoul prison following his death sentence. Included in this group is also a recent criminal who orchestrated a shooting spree in 2016, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers. These 59 criminals are awaiting their sentences, eventually leading to a long-term financial burden on taxpayers, such as Eonsik, who has been fed for over three decades.