The European Union and partners in Seoul reaffirm their commitment to the global abolition of the death penalty
[June 22, 2026 – Seoul] The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea today hosted a Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Seoul, bringing together legal experts, civil society representatives, academics, students and members of the diplomatic corps to discuss ways to end capital punishment.
European Union, 2026
Held ahead of the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, set to take place in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2026, the conference provided a platform for dialogue on the current status of the death penalty worldwide, and ongoing discussions in the Republic of Korea.
European Union, 2026
The conference featured two expert panel discussions. The first panel, “Death Penalty Abolition: Status and Trends in the Region,” brought together Mr. Ethan Hee-Seok Shin, Vice-Chair on Follow-Up, UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD); Ms. Karen Dumpit, Convenor, Anti Death Penalty Asia Network; and Ms. Eleonor Fernandez, Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The panel examined global and regional trends in death penalty abolition, including developments across Asia and the DPRK, as well as the role of international cooperation in advancing abolition efforts.
European Union, 2026
The second panel, “Death Penalty Abolition: Status and Discussions in the Republic of Korea,” featured Prof. Kiyoung Kim, Former Constitutional Court Justice and Distinguished Professor at Dankook University; Ms. Saeyan Choi, Lawyers for Democratic Society; and Ms. Nahi Hong, Campaign Director, Amnesty International Korea. The panel explored legal, constitutional and human rights perspectives on the future of the death penalty in the Republic of Korea, including constitutional jurisprudence and civil society advocacy.
European Union, 2026
Opening the event, H.E. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, reaffirmed the EU’s strong and unequivocal opposition to the use of the death penalty at all times and under all circumstances. “The EU considers that the death penalty constitutes a serious violation of human rights and human dignity. The abolition of capital punishment contributes to the progressive development of human rights”.
The abolition of the death penalty remains a key position of the EU’s human rights policy. The EU opposes capital punishment in all circumstances and without exception, as it constitutes a violation of the right to life and an affront to human dignity. Today, more than two-thirds of countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice, reflecting a growing global recognition that justice can be served without recourse to capital punishment. Therefore, and encouraged by the growing momentum towards abolition worldwide, the EU will continue its long-standing campaign against the death penalty. The EU supports the involvement in this effort of UN agencies, intergovernmental regional bodies and NGOs through advocacy, monitoring and technical cooperation. In this context, the EU will continue to work closely with civil society and support its essential role of reporting, raising awareness and calling for action. The EU notes in particular the efforts undertaken by the International Commission Against the Death Penalty.
The conference was organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea in cooperation with the Embassy of France in the Republic of Korea, the International Commission against the Death Penalty, Human Asia, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
European Union, 2026
European Union, 2026