Top court justice nominee espouses security law, abolition of death penalty

By Song Sang-ho

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- Supreme Court justice nominee Kim Jae-hyung on Tuesday espoused the National Security Law, alternative services for faith-based draft objectors and the abolition of capital punishment.

In his written answers to questions raised by Saenuri Party Rep. Kim Jin-tae, the top court nominee said that the National Security Law has a role to play, particularly at the time of a continuing military standoff between the two Koreas.

Kim, currently a professor at Seoul National University's School of Law, noted that through a set of past revisions to the law, concerns about the pitfalls in its interpretation and enforcement have been "considerably" reduced.

Critics argue the law could be arbitrarily interpreted to undermine people's basic rights. Under the law, South Koreans are barred from supporting or praising the North. They are also banned from joining a pro-Pyongyang organization or having unauthorized contact with the communist state.

On the issue of the so-called "conscientious objectors" who refuse to join the military based on their religious beliefs, the nominee said that the nation should explore ways to comprehensively protect the objectors' freedom.

"(The nation) should ponder harmonious solutions between the freedom of conscience and a military duty," he said.

"Based on national consensus, (the government) should actively consider opening ways (for the conscientious objectors) to carry out alternative services (rather than a military one) with a rigorous screening process and conditions."

Throwing his weight behind the abolition of the death penalty, Kim pointed to the possibility of misjudgment in court proceedings. But he stressed that measures to prevent any side effects from the abolition should be crafted.

Although South Korea keeps the death penalty, it has not carried out any executions since 1997 -- the reason why Amnesty International, a global human rights watchdog, has classified the country as "abolitionist in practice."

The National Assembly is set to hold a confirmation hearing for Kim on Thursday. A Supreme Court justice nominee requires parliamentary approval.

sshluck@yna.co.kr
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