"The Internet Hankyoreh", Korean online newspaper, reported on 30 Dec. that the mass executions took place in several cities in South Korea.
According to the report twenty-three death row inmates were killed by hanging. This is the third execution since the civilian government was established. The administration executed 19 prisoners in Nov. 1995, 23 in 1982, 27 in 1976 and 68 in 1954.
An authority at the Justice Ministry reportedly told that the number of death row prisoners has been increasing and filled to capacity of the facilities; that is one of the reasons of executions at this time.
Adding that they will continue executions without delay from now on. Now, 36 death row inmates are reportedly awaiting for their turns of execution.
Citizens and organizations, including Amnesty International Korean branch and Christian groups and so on, raised the voice against the brutality.
In Japan, as long as I have searched, no media has covered the incident as of 2 Jan.
Later, someone let me know that the Mainichi Shinbun alone covered the executions on Dec. 31.
I called the Kyodo Tsusin Press and asked about this. The person on the line confirmed that the Korean Government issued the statement about the executions and the Kyodo Press has distributed the news to it's clients. As for the Asahi Shinbun, one of the most authoritative papers in Japan, no inquiry is available during the New Year's holiday till 5 Jan., a person who answered my phone said.
IMAI Kyohei@CPR