{
  "id": 12319627,
  "title": "Korea has 52 death row inmates, average age of 58.7",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/korea-has-52-death-row-inmates-average-age-of-58-7",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T06:42:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20261006/korea-has-52-death-row-inmates-average-age-of-587"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea currently holds 52 death row inmates, with an average age of 58.7 years, according to the justice ministry. Executions in the country have been suspended for nearly three decades, with the last execution occurring on December 30, 1997. The inmates are primarily housed in domestic correctional facilities, with 17 prisoners, or 32.7 percent, aged 60 or older, highlighting the aging population of death row inmates. The majority of the inmates, aged 50s, constitute 29 individuals. Notorious serial killers Yoo Young-chul and Kang Ho-sun, who are responsible for killing 20 and 10 people respectively, are currently imprisoned at the Seoul Detention Center. Despite the suspension of executions, Korea is recognized as a de facto abolitionist state by Amnesty International since 2007. The death row population is aging due to the ongoing debate regarding the abolition of the death penalty.",
  "summary": "With executions suspended in Korea for nearly 30 years, 52 death row inmates are currently being held in domestic correctional facilities, the justice ministry said Tuesday. The death row prisoners have an average age of 58.7, while 17, or 32.7 percent, are aged 60 or older, the ministry said, four days ahead of World Day Against the Death Penalty, observed annually on Oct. 10. Those in their 50s…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea holds 52 death row inmates.",
    "Average age of inmates is 58.7 years.",
    "Last execution was on December 30, 1997."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The aging population of death row inmates in Korea reflects the prolonged suspension of executions, turning the country's de facto abolitionist status into a practical challenge to reevaluate capital punishment.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "S. Korea has 52 death row inmates, average age of 58.7",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/s-korea-has-52-death-row-inmates-average-age-of-58-7",
        "published": "2026-10-06T06:10:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea has 52 death row inmates, average age of 58.7",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/korea-has-52-death-row-inmates-average-age-of-58-7-12322983",
        "published": "2026-10-06T07:07:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}