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More punishment is not the answer, says Korean seminar

A personalized restorative justice system 'is a more efficient way’ to reduce crime'
More punishment is not the answer, says Korean seminar
Published: December 22, 2016 10:28 AM GMT
Updated: December 22, 2016 10:28 AM GMT

Korean society would benefit if there was more investment and research done into restorative justice said speakers at a seminar in Seoul organized by a bishops' committee on Dec.14.

"A restorative justice system — when both victims and criminals are rehabilitated — benefits society and reduces crimes," said Thomas Aquinas Hong Sung-soo, law professor at Sookmyung Women's University at the seminar put on by the Korean bishops' Subcommittee for the Abolition of Capital Punishment.

"The death penalty only eliminates the criminals, not the fundamental problems in our society which cause crimes," he said.

"Rather than stepping up the level of punishment, we need to apply the restorative justice system. It is a more efficient way to reduce crimes."

Restorative justice personalizes the crime by having victims and offenders mediate a restitution agreement to the satisfaction of each. It also involves the community.

Lawmaker Park Ju-min, of the main opposing Democratic Party, argued that Korea needs to actively promote restorative justice to reduce crimes in the society, which believes could also lead to the abolition of the death penalty.

"If the victims of the crimes participate in the restorative justice system by submitting evidence during trials or by actively commenting on the trial, they can better overcome the trauma of the crime," Park said.

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