The Korean Bar Association ... K-B-A ... is opposing the abolishment of capital punishment.
In a letter to the National Assembly, the K-B-A said social circumstances are not ripe for the abolition of the death penalty.
A bill on the abolishment of capital punishment is pending at the parliament.
The K-B-A said that, if the bill is passed now, it would cause social confusion in view of the people's legal sentiment and current social conditions. The association said sufficient public discussions are needed to draw a national consensus before making a final decision on the matter.
More than one hundred-50 ruling and opposition party lawmakers submitted the bill to the National Assembly last month. They said depriving criminals of their life in the name of punishment ... goes against human dignity and the right to life as guaranteed by the Constitution.