Human rights watchdog calls for progress on abolishing death penalty

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea called for renewed efforts to abolish the death penalty in Korea on Saturday. NHRCK Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho said the country has maintained public safety and a stable criminal justice system without an execution since Dec. 30, 1997. He urged the government and National Assembly to review abolition measures while separately protecting crime victims and strengthening public safety. He also called for discussion of Korea joining the UN protocol aimed at abolishing capital punishment.

Ahn Chang-ho said executions are irreversible because no later legal or judicial process can undo them.

Amnesty International reported that 145 countries had abolished the death penalty in law or practice by the end of last year, representing about three-quarters of countries worldwide.

The NHRCK urged consideration of Korea’s international human rights obligations, victim protection and public safety in reviewing abolition measures.

Ahn called for discussions on Korea’s accession to the United Nations’ Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Published Oct 10, 2026 3:31 pm KST

National Human Rights Commission of Korea Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) on Saturday called for renewed efforts to abolish the death penalty, nearly 30 years after the country's last execution.

In a statement marking the 24th World Day Against the Death Penalty, NHRCK Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho noted that Korea had not carried out an execution since Dec. 30, 1997.

“The past 30 years have shown that society can maintain public safety and a stable criminal justice system without carrying out executions. This experience is a valuable asset that goes beyond simply suspending executions,” Ahn said.

“Now is the time to advance discussions on whether the death penalty should remain in law, drawing on this experience.”

Ahn also highlighted the global trend toward abolishing capital punishment. According to Amnesty International, 145 countries had abolished the death penalty in law or practice as of the end of last year, accounting for about three-quarters of countries worldwide.

He said discussions on abolition should take into account the suffering of violent crime victims and their families, as well as public demand for safety.

However, he stressed that protecting victims' rights and strengthening public safety should be considered separately from whether the state should retain the power to take human life as punishment.

Ahn also cited the irreversible nature of executions, noting that they cannot be undone through any subsequent legal or judicial process.

He urged the government and the National Assembly to review legislative and institutional measures to abolish the death penalty, taking into account Korea's experience, international human rights standards, victim protection and public safety.

He also called for discussions on Korea's accession to the United Nations' Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to abolish the death penalty.

[COVER STORY] After interviewing 42 death row inmates, researcher believes capital punishment should end

韩国国家人权委员会周六呼吁各方重新努力废除韩国的死刑。该委员会主席安昌浩表示，自1997年12月30日以来，韩国在没有执行死刑的情况下，一直保持着公共安全和稳定的刑事司法体系。他敦促政府和国会在审查废除死刑措施的同时，也要兼顾保护犯罪受害者和加强公共安全。他还呼吁讨论韩国加入旨在废除死刑的联合国议定书的可能性。

安昌浩表示，死刑是不可逆转的，因为任何后续的法律或司法程序都无法撤销死刑。

国际特赦组织报告称，截至去年年底，已有 145 个国家在法律上或实践中废除了死刑，约占全球国家的四分之三。

全国人权委员会敦促在审查废除措施时考虑韩国的国际人权义务、受害者保护和公共安全。

安呼吁就韩国加入联合国《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》第二项任择议定书进行讨论。

发布于2026年10月10日下午3:31（韩国标准时间）

韩国国家人权委员会委员长安昌浩

韩国国家人权委员会（NHRCK）周六呼吁重新努力废除死刑，距离该国最后一次执行死刑已近30年。

在纪念第24个世界反对死刑日的声明中，全国人权委员会主席安昌浩指出，韩国自1997年12月30日以来就没有执行过死刑。

安表示：“过去30年的经验表明，社会可以在不执行死刑的情况下维护公共安全和稳定的刑事司法系统。这种经验是一笔宝贵的财富，其意义远不止于暂停执行死刑。”

“现在是时候借鉴这次的经验，推进关于死刑是否应该继续保留在法律上的讨论了。”

安还强调了全球废除死刑的趋势。据国际特赦组织统计，截至去年年底，已有145个国家在法律上或实践中废除了死刑，约占全球国家总数的四分之三。

他表示，关于废除该制度的讨论应该考虑到暴力犯罪受害者及其家人的痛苦，以及公众对安全的需求。

然而，他强调，保护受害者权利和加强公共安全应该与国家是否应该保留以剥夺人的生命作为惩罚的权力分开考虑。

安还指出，死刑的不可逆转性不容置疑，任何后续的法律或司法程序都无法撤销死刑。

他敦促政府和国会审查废除死刑的立法和体制措施，同时考虑到韩国的经验、国际人权标准、受害者保护和公共安全。

他还呼吁就韩国加入联合国《公民权利和政治权利国际公约第二项任择议定书》进行讨论，该议定书旨在废除死刑。

【封面故事】研究人员采访了42名死刑犯后认为，死刑应该废除。