Two Unexecuted Death Row Inmates Die From Illness

It has been confirmed that two death row inmates, who were imprisoned in an unexecuted state last year, died from illness.

Since the suspension of death penalty executions in 1997, the number of inmates sentenced to death and currently serving their sentences has decreased to 57.

According to a report by News1 on the 25th, a defendant in the 'Miryang Danran Bar Murder Case,' Mr. Kang (in his 50s), passed away from illness last August.

This case occurred in 1996 in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, where organized gang members engaged in a violent confrontation with weapons at a bar, chased down a gang member who was transported to the hospital and killed him, and seriously injured or killed the responding police officers. Mr. Kang was sentenced to death in December of the same year.

After living for decades as a death row inmate, Mr. Kang collapsed due to illness and fell into a state of unconsciousness.

He applied for a stay of execution, but it was rejected due to his status as a death row inmate, and he ultimately passed away in the hospital.

Increase in Inmate Deaths While Awaiting Execution Amidst Suspension of Death Penalty

Another death row inmate, referred to as Mr. A, is also reported to have died from illness in prison in the second half of last year.

With this, the current number of unexecuted death row inmates has decreased to 57, among which four were sentenced to death under military law and are managed by the military.

The total number of death row inmates who died while awaiting execution due to illness or other reasons amounts to 14. Among these, five took their own lives.

In terms of yearly occurrences, two died in 2024, one in 2021, one in 2019, two in 2015, one in 2011, four in 2009, two in 2007, and one in 2006.

Image source: Material photo to aid understanding of the article / gettyimagesbank