Two Koreans receive death penalty in China for drug trafficking. One more Korean set to be executed soon.

Article from Asia Economy Daily:



Two Koreans have been given the death penalty after being arrested for distribution of illegal drugs in China. Two were executed on August 6th, and one more is expected to be given the death penalty for the same crime. This marks the first death sentence in ten years of a South Korean national in China. The last time was when in 2004 when two were sentenced to death for homicide.

According to a report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 6th, Kim (53) sold illegal drugs to Baek (45) in China’s Jilin Province. They were then sold to gang members in Korea. Both were given the death penalty.

Kim smuggled 14.8 kg (enough for 50 thousand people) from North Korea and sold it to Baek, who then resold to gang members in South Korea. They were arrested by the Chinese Public Security Bureau in Jilin Province. The South Korean consulate general in Shenyang was notified 6 days later.

In December, 2012, they were given a death sentence which they appealed. However the judgement was upheld in a second trial last September.

Another man, Kim (56) also is set to face execution. He was arrested in 2009 in Shandong on the charges of transporting illegal drugs. He received the death penalty in his first trial which he appealed in May 2012, but the judgement was upheld in the second trial.

Article 347 of Chinese criminal law states that any amount of opium over 1 kg, and heroin or methamphetamine over 50 grams that is smuggled, sold, transported, or produced carries a minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, a life sentence, as well as the death penalty.

In the past five years, China has carried out executions on English, Japanese, South African, Pakistani, and Filipino citizens. On average the amount of illegal drugs in possession was 3 to 4 kilograms.

The Supreme People’s Court’s investigation during the first trial resulted in an order for the death penalty. Around midnight that day the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed that the execution would take place that afternoon.

Since the Korean government was informed of the arrest, they have ask Chinese legal authorities for a quick and fair trial and frequently checked on the status of the investigation. And they also have requested that the death penalty be avoided on human rights grounds, even though they are respecting the judgment made by the Chinese legal authorities.

While the Chinese authorities understood the Korean government’s stance, [they maintain that] drug offenses have a great effect on society. Due to this, under Chinese law status as a foreign national is disregarded and punishment is severe. Especially in judgments for capital punishment and execution being in the hands of the judicial branch, it is impossible to spare punishment for citizens of a particular country.

Currently, approximately 20 people are imprisoned for drug offences or homicide. They have received capital sentences in the first trial, but are expected to receive suspended sentences in the second trial.

No Gwang-il, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, while announcing the situation of those involved, “We find the execution of our countrymen in China for drug offenses very regrettable.”

From the time of the arrest and prior to judicial proceedings, the consul provided assistance to the two South Korean nationals. After the capital sentences were upheld, there were repeated calls for consideration of human rights.

Representative No added that, “Prior to the execution, the Korean government facilitated visits by the families as well as the consul. The government also plans to assist in the transport of the bodies to the families. Going forward, through inter-ministerial cooperation, we plan to make more efforts to keep Korean citizens from being complicit in illegal drug crimes. We will also continue to take actions that aid Korean citizens abroad who are in difficult situations for any reason.”

Comments from Naver:

cjsw****:

Oh, that’s awesome, ke ke ke. Let’s have capital punishment in Korea again!! There will be so many guys to execute.. So many!!

9977****:

If this were in Korea, they would be released really quick.

mont****:

They deserve the death penalty. Goodbye.

chen****:

Let’s learn what we can from China.

nnan****:

Park Bom hates this article.

cjsw****:

We should get the death penalty again in Korea. Human rights [warriors] might go nuts but a criminal is just a criminal. Human rights are for the victims! There are way too many guys who would be getting the death penalty right now!

kys1****:

China is really cleaning up the trash.

zasx****:

Of course, it’s China. Because of the opium wars, they show no mercy when it comes to drugs. We should emulate them and be a country that shows no mercy to pro-Japanese collaborators.

jyks****:

Park Bom, are you reading this? [Park Bom of 2NE1 has been involved in a drug smuggling scandal. A package of medication was intercepted by customs as all narcotics are banned in South Korea. After revealing medical records however, she has been cleared of wrongdoing. Some netizens though still consider her a drug addict.]

0105****:

So what is Korea doing?! Korean judges who uphold the law should learn from that. Even cruel Oh Won-chun just got life imprisonment. [Oh Won-choon is an infamous Korean-Chinese murderer who, after trying and failing to rape the victim, killed her and chopped her into 300 pieces. He was sentenced to life.]

divi****:

I wish Korea also had the death penalty.

trys****:

If this happened in Korea, the sentence would be light.

dong****:

Thank you. Let’s change out our high court for China’s.

este****:

We want stronger laws in Korea! Especially for brutal murders, there’s no need to think twice about it! Capital punishment!

dyde****:

Good job. Let’s kill Oh Won-chun.

tolt****:

We should also have the death penalty like them.

badr****:

Let’s be like that and give out the death penalty when needed.

v_vm****:

Korea needs strong laws, too. Not just saying we still have the death penalty technically…

jdg5****:

Korea needs to learn something like that.

jtea****: