The European Parliament adopted by 50 votes to 4 with 4 abstentions a resolution on South Korea – death penalty declared legal.
The resolution was tabled by the S&D, GUE/NGL, Greens/ALE, ALDE, and EPP groups.
It notes that on 25 February 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Korea ruled by a 5-4 majority that capital punishment is constitutional, but the judges also underlined that the issue of whether to retain or abolish the death penalty should be debated in the National Assembly rather than in the course of constitutional proceedings. Parliament recognises that the Republic of Korea has not carried out any executions since 1998, making it a de facto abolitionist country and it welcomes improvements in the protection and promotion of human rights there. It is deeply disappointed at the decision by the Republic of Korea's Constitutional Court to uphold the death penalty, but notes that the ruling was adopted by a very small majority, unlike the 7-2 verdict in 1996. Parliament reiterates its general opposition to the death penalty and expresses its support for movements fighting for the abolition of the death penalty .It encourages the Republic of Korea to institute a legal moratorium on all executions until Parliament has passed a law abolishing the death penalty.
Lastly, Parliament calls on the Government of the Republic of Korea to support the UN resolution on the abolition of the death penalty and to decide to co-sponsor or vote in favour of a resolution to be submitted to the General Assembly.