Regarding the Upholding of the Death Penalty by Constitutional Court

On February 25th, 2010, the Constitutional court ruled five to four that the death penalty system is constitutional in regard the request for a constitutionary review suggested by Gwangju High Court on that the death penalty system is in violation of the Constitution. We believe that the judgement is against the right to life as a basic right of the Constitution, and we regard it as an expression of violence committed by state power.

We have made our every effort for over 20 years to assert that the death penalty system violates right to life, human dignity and the Bible, and to abolish it. It is frustrating, however, that the Constitutional Court today ruled in favor of constitutionality of the death penalty without taking any further step from the logic expressed 13 years ago, that is, “the public good, including the protection of the lives of citizens through crime prevention and the realization of justice, is not lesser than the protection of the right to life of a person who has committed a heinous crime.” It must be nothing but an anachronism.

When we confess that all living things are formed according to God"s image. the core of all forms is "life". Even in this civilized society of 21 century, the Korea Constitution Court which does not have a right acknowledgment about the right to life ruled in favor of the death penality"s constitutionality, claiming of the balance of criminal law, the principle of proportion and the principle of equality. It has brought people in Korea to fold their hope for just and peaceful society and for world with fullness of life.

Therefore we commit ourselves to fresh and devotional start to make the Republic of Korea step toward "a legal abolitionist" from "an abolitionist in practice" through carrying a bill for abolishment of death penalty submitted at the 18th regular session of the National Assembly by whole participation of both ruling and opposing party.

February 25th, 2010

Rev. Oh-Sung Kwon

General Secretary

The National Council of Churches in Korea

Rev. Sang-Bok Jung

Chairperson

The Committee of Justice and Peace/ NCCK