{
  "id": 12322983,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T07:07:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "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 houses 52 inmates on death row, with an average age of 58.7 years, according to the justice ministry. This fact is reported a day before World Day Against the Death Penalty, which is celebrated on October 10. The ministry's data indicates that 17 inmates, or 32.7% of the total, are aged 60 or above, highlighting the aging nature of the death row population. The majority of the inmates are in their 50s, comprising 29 individuals. The death row inmates include infamous serial killers Yoo Young-chul, who murdered 20 people, and Kang Ho-sun, responsible for 10 murders. These prisoners are currently held at the Seoul Detention Center following their convictions. It is noteworthy that Korea has maintained a 30-year moratorium on executions, with the last execution taking place on December 30, 1997, when 23 individuals, including members of the notorious Jijonpa murder gang, were executed. Amnesty International has recognized Korea as a de facto abolitionist state since 2007. The aging death row population reflects the ongoing debate surrounding the potential abolition of the death penalty in the country.",
  "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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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",
        "published": "2026-10-06T06:42:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}