Chairman Ahn Chang-ho of the National Human Rights Commission "30 years since suspension of capital punishment in 2025... need to join the abolition protocol"

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) released a statement on November 10 calling for the abolition of the death penalty, marking the 24th 'World Abolition of the Death Penalty Day'. Unlike last year, when the NHRC had not explicitly mentioned abolishing the death penalty, this year, they have emphasized the need for abolition.

The NHRC's chairperson, An Chang-ho, stated in the statement that "South Korea has been operating the criminal justice system without executions for nearly a generation" and that "the legislative and institutional direction on the abolition of the death penalty needs to be reviewed, and the entry of the 'Abolition of the Death Penalty Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights' (death penalty abolition protocol) should be promoted."

The 1989 death penalty abolition protocol was signed by 92 countries including Germany, France, and Australia. South Korea became a "de facto abolitionist country" after not executing anyone since December 30, 1997. An Chang-ho pointed out that "once executed, it is impossible to restore the state of affairs. There are tragic cases in our history, such as the 2007 Im-hyang-gun Restoration Movement case, where execution was carried out and later exonerated through retrial, confirming it was a judicial error."

He also emphasized that "the debate on the abolition of the death penalty should not overlook the protection of victims' rights and the strengthening of social safety nets, distinguishing it from the issue of maintaining the death penalty." An Chang-ho noted that there was criticism that this was the first time the NHRC had not specifically advocated for the death penalty abolition on this day, compared to the previous year.

This comes after An Chang-ho expressed a pro-death penalty stance in a constitutional court candidate hearing in 2012. He clarified to Hankyoreh that he had previously supported the death penalty abolition stance. An Chang-ho explained that "while the NHRC had expressed support for the death penalty abolition stance in the previous year, directly mentioning a different governmental institution (constitutional court) to review the issue was somewhat cautious."

He described this year's statement as "a stronger push for the abolition of the death penalty in light of the 30th anniversary of the death penalty suspension." The death penalty abolition movement is already global, with 145 countries having legally or practically abolished it as of last year, with 113 countries fully abolishing it.

South Korea has also consistently advocated for the death penalty abolition, urging the adoption of the death penalty abolition protocol in the UN General Assembly's 'Death Penalty Moratorium Resolution' since 2020. The NHRC has consistently highlighted the need for the death penalty abolition since 2005, and in 2018, they recommended the adoption of the death penalty abolition protocol to the government.