Who is on Death Row in South Korea? Full List
□ 57 inmates with finalized death sentences awaiting execution
| Name | Age | Number of Victims | Date Death Sentence Finalized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Won Eon-sik | 66 | 15 | 1993.11.23 |
| Jeon Seok-jae | 59 | 1 | 1995.05.23 |
| Jeon Yong-jae | 55 | 1 | 1995.07.28 |
| Park Han-sang | 52 | 2 | 1995.08.22 |
| Seong Nak-ju | 72 | 2 | 1995.08.25 |
| Lee Woo-cheol | 62 | 2 | 1996.06.11 |
| Jeong Byeong-ok | 57 | 2 | 1996.06.11 |
| Jeong Byeong-geun | 57 | 2 | 1996.06.11 |
| Seong Tae-su | 63 | 1 | 1996.04.26 |
| Im Dong-su | 52 | 3 | 1997.05.08 |
| Hong Dae-bok | 71 | 2 | 1997.05.30 |
| Kim Yong-sik | 48 | 3 | 1997.06.27 |
| Park Gwang | 60 | 3 | 1997.07.22 |
| Choi Jeong-su | 47 | 1 | 1997.11.28 |
| Lee Seung-su | 47 | 4 | 1997.12.31 |
| Jeong Geun-ho | 51 | 2 | 1998.06.03 |
| Lee Won-su | 69 | 3 | 1998.09.04 |
| Go Jong-won | 58 | 2 | 1999.09.21 |
| Park Jin-bong | 68 | 1 | 2000.01.14 |
| Lee Gyu-sang | 53 | 2 | 2000.05.18 |
| Park Gyeong-su | 48 | 2 | 2000.07.07 |
| No Gyeong-rak | 55 | 2 | 2000.09.05 |
| Lee Sun-cheol | 56 | 1 | 2000.10.13 |
| Kang Jong-gap | 71 | 2 | 2000.11.18 |
| Jeong Hyeong-gu | 60 | 2 | 2000.11.30 |
| Jeong Du-yeong | 55 | 9 | 2000.12.08 |
| Hwang Ho-jin | 46 | 3 | 2001.02.09 |
| Go Heung-su | 47 | 4 | 2001.02.23 |
| Baek Gi-mun | 56 | 3 | 2001.04.10 |
| Kang Yeong-min | 52 | 2 | 2001.05.08 |
| Cheon Byeong-seon | 75 | 4 | 2001.05.29 |
| Lee Myeong-ho | 56 | 2 | 2001.07.13 |
| Wang Liwei | 47 | 2 | 2001.09.14 |
| Kim Hae-seon | 54 | 3 | 2001.12.24 |
| Jo Yong-hun | 54 | 3 | 2002.07.09 |
| Kim Jong-geun | 51 | 3 | 2002.08.23 |
| Kim Jung-ho | 65 | 4 | 2003.02.26 |
| Heo Jae-pil | 45 | 6 | 2003.03.28 |
| Jeong Un-ha | 66 | 4 | 2003.08.22 |
| Park Jong-gyu | 49 | 2 | 2003.10.09 |
| Do Gyeong-il | 52 | 3 | 2003.11.13 |
| Kim Geun-woo | 42 | 2 | 2004.06.24 |
| Ra Gyeong-ok | 81 | 6 | 2004.09.03 |
| Yoo Young-chul | 53 | 20 | 2005.06.09 |
| Lee Jong-heon | 55 | 2 | 2005.08.25 |
| Jeon Yong-sul | 68 | 1 | 2005.09.28 |
| Kim Yong-won | 57 | 3 | 2006.03.24 |
| Jang Gi-su | 54 | 4 | 2006.09.08 |
| Jo Gyeong-min | 46 | 3 | 2007.06.15 |
| Kim Dong-min | 39 | 8 | 2008.05.15 |
| Jeong Seong-hyeon | 54 | 3 | 2009.02.26 |
| Jeong Sang-jin | 45 | 6 | 2009.05.12 |
| Kang Ho-sun | 54 | 10 | 2009.07.23 |
| Lee Hyang-yeol | 57 | 3 | 2010.03.25 |
| Kim Min-chan | 31 | 4 | 2013.01.24 |
| Jang Jae-jin | 33 | 2 | 2015.08.27 |
| Im Do-bin | 31 | 5 | 2016.02.19 |
□ Death Row Inmates Confirmed Dead Since the 90s
| Name | Year and Cause of Death |
|---|---|
| Jang Se-myeong | 2006 – Illness |
| Jeon Yong-ha | 2007 – Suicide |
| Kim Jong-hwa | 2007 – Illness |
| Kim Cheol-pyo | 2009 – Suicide |
| Shim In-sang | 2009 – Illness |
| Jeong Nam-gyu | 2009 – Suicide |
| Kim Jong-bin | 2009 – Suicide |
| Lee Su-il | 2011 – Suicide |
| Oh Su-hyeon | 2015 – Illness |
| Lee Dong-jin | 2015 – Suicide |
| Lee Jae-bok | 2019 – Illness |
| Im Myeong-gi | 2021 – Illness |
| Oh Jong-geun | 2024 – Illness |
| Kang Yeong-seong | 2024 – Illness |
□ Death Sentences Commuted to Life Imprisonment Since the 90s
| Name | Year and Reason |
|---|---|
| Mian Mohammad Aziz | 1998 – Deportation |
| Amir Jamil | 1998 – Deportation |
| Kim Gwang-nyeon | 1999 – Good prison conduct |
| Choi Pil-seung | 1999 – Good prison conduct |
| Jeong Yeong-bok | 1999 – Good prison conduct |
| Kim Su-ryeon | 1999 – Good prison conduct |
| Lee Yeon-ok | 1999 – Good prison conduct |
| Jeong Nam-jin | 2000 – Good prison conduct |
| Chae Jong-su | 2000 – Good prison conduct |
| Kim Jin-tae | 2002 – Good prison conduct |
| Kim Dong-un | 2002 – Good prison conduct |
| Kim In-je | 2002 – Good prison conduct |
| Kim Jang-geun | 2002 – Good prison conduct |
| Jeon Jae-cheon | 2007 – Good prison conduct |
| In In-su | 2007 – Good prison conduct |
| Lee Jong-chan | 2007 – Good prison conduct |
| Jeong Yeong-jae | 2007 – Good prison conduct |
| Min Byeong-yong | 2007 – Good prison conduct |
| Jeong Dong-sun | 2007 – Good prison conduct |
Age Distribution at Time of Arrest
| Age Group | Number |
|---|---|
| Teens | 1 |
| 20s | 20 |
| 30s | 25 |
| 40s | 9 |
| 50s | 1 |
| 60s | 1 |
| 70s | 0 |
| 80s | 0 |
<Info on the 57 inmates>
Won Eon-sik
- Residence: Wonju
- Occupation: Office worker
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Domestic conflict
- Upbringing: Raised by single mother
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Arson resulting in death
Seong Nak-ju
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Elementary school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Orphan
- Former religion: Buddhism
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Jeon Yong-jae
- Residence: Ansan
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Parents separated; business failure
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Aggravated kidnapping of a minor
Park Han-sang
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: University graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Wealthy two-parent household
- Former religion: Christianity
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Parricide
Jeon Seok-jae
- Residence: Ulsan
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Middle school graduate
- Prior record: Two offenses
- Motive: Sexual temptation
- Upbringing: Raised by single mother in poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Aggravated kidnapping of a minor
Lee Woo-cheol
- Residence: Incheon
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Elementary school graduate
- Prior record: Seven offenses
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Religious conflicts within family; depression
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Jeong Byeong-ok
- Residence: Pyeongtaek
- Occupation: Farmer
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Four offenses
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Average two-parent household
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Murder
Jeong Byeong-geun
- Residence: Anyang
- Occupation: Advertising business
- Education: Middle school graduate
- Prior record: Nine offenses
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Single mother household
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Murder
Seong Tae-su
- Residence: Yeocheon
- Occupation: Woodcraft worker
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Three offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Unknown
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Aggravated kidnapping and luring of a minor
Choi Jeong-su
- Residence: Hwaseong
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Dropped out
- Prior record: Eight offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Mother ran away; father worked away from home; raised by grandmother
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Im Dong-su
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Laborer
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Dissatisfaction with reality
- Upbringing: Poor two-parent household
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Murder
Hong Dae-bok
- Residence: Paju
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Six offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Drug exposure through relatives
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Park Gwang
- Residence: Daegu
- Occupation: Woodcraft worker
- Education: Unknown
- Prior record: One offense
- Motive: Impulsive
- Upbringing: Unknown
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: None
- Principal crime: Murder
Lee Seung-su
- Residence: Daegu
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school dropout
- Prior record: Three offenses
- Motive: Financial gain and impulsive action
- Upbringing: Father day laborer; mother chronically ill
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Kim Yong-sik
- Residence: Dongducheon
- Occupation: Soldier
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Revenge and impulsive action
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; father’s business failed before crime
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder of a sentry
Lee Won-su
- Residence: Unknown
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Elementary dropout
- Prior record: Ten offenses
- Motive: Sexual temptation and impulsive action
- Upbringing: Single mother; worked with older brother
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Sexual assault-murder
Jeong Geun-ho
- Residence: Daegu
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Eight offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Mother ran away; father died during middle school years; poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Go Jong-won
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school dropout
- Prior record: Seven offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Single mother household; poverty; strong sibling bonds
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Park Jin-bong
- Residence: Gimhae
- Occupation: Unknown
- Education: Unknown
- Prior record: One offense
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Unknown
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Aggravated kidnapping of a minor
Kang Jong-gap
- Residence: Suncheon
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Elementary school graduate
- Prior record: Two offenses
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Stepmother; father died when he was 16
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Murder
Jeong Hyeong-gu
- Residence: Suwon
- Occupation: Entertainment business
- Education: Middle school graduate
- Prior record: Multiple offenses
- Motive: Impulsive
- Upbringing: Single mother; poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Here is the complete continuation of the Detailed Personal Profile Analysis of the 57 Current Death Row Inmates, translated accurately and consistently with the earlier section.
Detailed Personal Profile Analysis (Continued)
Lee Gyu-sang
- Residence: Pyeongtaek
- Occupation: Sailor
- Education: Middle school graduate
- Prior record: Repeat offender
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Stepmother; family conflicts; poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Lee Sun-cheol
- Residence: Daejeon
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Two offenses
- Motive: Impulsive
- Upbringing: Parents divorced; mother remarried; juvenile detention experience
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
No Gyeong-rak
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Father died during middle school years; poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Murder
Park Gyeong-su
- Residence: Gwangju
- Occupation: Employee
- Education: Dropped out
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Parents divorced; raised by maternal grandparents; abused
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Jeong Du-yeong
- Residence: Busan
- Occupation: Vendor
- Education: Elementary school dropout
- Prior record: Six offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Father died; mother remarried; orphanage upbringing; juvenile detention; poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Kim Hae-seon
- Residence: Gochang
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Dropped out
- Prior record: Eight offenses
- Motive: Sexual temptation
- Upbringing: Father abusive; poor adjustment in elementary school
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Rape
Lee Myeong-ho
- Residence: Namyangju
- Occupation: Entertainment industry
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Ten offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Divorced; business failure
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Go Heung-su
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Vendor
- Education: Dropped out
- Prior record: Two offenses
- Motive: Revenge and financial gain
- Upbringing: Raised by stepmother; poverty; abandoned schooling
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Wang Liwei
- Residence: Ansan
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Middle school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Sexual temptation
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; poor school adjustment
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Rape-murder
Hwang Ho-jin
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Employee
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Two offenses
- Motive: Sexual temptation
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; introverted personality
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Rape-murder
Cheon Byeong-seon
- Residence: Icheon
- Occupation: Employee
- Education: Middle school graduate
- Prior record: Seven offenses
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Parents died at age five; orphanage upbringing; abuse
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Murder
Kang Yeong-min
- Residence: Daejeon
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; business failure
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Baek Gi-mun
- Residence: Iksan
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Dropped out
- Prior record: Eight offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Unknown
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Jo Yong-hun
- Residence: Unknown
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school dropout
- Prior record: Three offenses
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Kim Jong-geun
- Residence: Bucheon
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; business failed during IMF crisis
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Kim Jung-ho
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Taxi driver
- Education: Elementary dropout
- Prior record: Eleven offenses
- Motive: Domestic conflict
- Upbringing: Poverty; sexual abuse of stepdaughter; depression
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Jeong Un-ha
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Parents divorced; raised by stepfather
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Murder
Do Gyeong-il
- Residence: Anseong
- Occupation: Insurance agent
- Education: University graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Normal two-parent household
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Catholicism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Heo Jae-pil
- Residence: Yongin
- Occupation: Employee
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Divorce; single father; father’s business bankruptcy
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Park Jong-gyu
- Residence: Siheung
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Poor two-parent household
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Kim Geun-woo
- Residence: Bucheon
- Occupation: Student (on leave)
- Education: College student
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Patriarchal father; introverted personality
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Parricide
Ra Gyeong-ok
- Residence: Unknown
- Occupation: Religious leader
- Education: Elementary school graduate
- Prior record: Four offenses
- Motive: Other
- Upbringing: Father abusive; pathological jealousy
- Former religion: Other religion
- Current religion: Other religion
- Principal crime: Murder
Lee Jong-heon
- Residence: Mokpo
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Single mother; raised by aunt after age 11
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Robbery-murder
Yoo Young-chul
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school dropout
- Prior record: 14 offenses
- Motive: Dissatisfaction with society
- Upbringing: Single mother; divorce; hostility toward wealthy people and women
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: None
- Principal crime: Murder
Jeon Yong-sul
- Residence: Masan
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school dropout
- Prior record: Four offenses
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Wealthy two-parent household; elite high school; divorce
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Kim Yong-won
- Residence: Cheongju
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Dropped out
- Prior record: Eight offenses
- Motive: Impulsive and sexual temptation
- Upbringing: Domestic violence; poverty
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Buddhism
- Principal crime: Murder
Jang Gi-su
- Residence: Daejeon
- Occupation: Company employee
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Financial gain
- Upbringing: Patriarchal household; introverted personality
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Unknown
- Principal crime: Murder
Kim Dong-min
- Residence: Incheon
- Occupation: Soldier
- Education: College student
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; introverted personality
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: None
- Principal crime: Murder of a sentry
Jeong Seong-hyeon
- Residence: Anyang
- Occupation: Substitute driver
- Education: University graduate
- Prior record: Seven offenses
- Motive: Sexual temptation
- Upbringing: Parents divorced; domestic violence
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Unknown
- Principal crime: Sexual assault-murder
Jeong Sang-jin
- Residence: Seoul
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Eight offenses
- Motive: Dissatisfaction with reality
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; poor peer relations; introverted
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder
Kang Ho-sun
- Residence: Ansan
- Occupation: Masseur
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: Nine offenses
- Motive: Sexual temptation
- Upbringing: Patriarchal father; wealthy household
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: None
- Principal crime: Rape-murder
Lee Hyang-yeol
- Residence: Yeongam
- Occupation: Unemployed
- Education: Elementary school graduate
- Prior record: Three offenses
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Poverty; distant relations with half-siblings; close with full siblings
- Former religion: Christianity
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Rape-murder
Kim Min-chan
- Residence: Gumi
- Occupation: Soldier
- Education: College student
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; experienced school bullying; introverted
- Former religion: Christianity
- Current religion: Christianity
- Principal crime: Murder of a sentry
Jang Jae-jin
- Residence: Gyeongsan
- Occupation: University student
- Education: College student
- Prior record: One offense
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Normal two-parent household
- Former religion: None
- Current religion: Unknown
- Principal crime: Murder
Im Do-bin
- Residence: Suwon
- Occupation: Soldier
- Education: High school graduate
- Prior record: None
- Motive: Revenge
- Upbringing: Two-parent household; experienced school bullying; introverted
- Former religion: Unknown
- Current religion: Unknown
- Principal crime: Murder of a sentry
Source: Jeon Sung-gyu
Director, Korean Psychological Science Center
KLAWGURU.COM 
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