Friday, August 27
Smoking ban constitutional
The Constitutional Court in Seoul has upheld a ban on smoking in public buildings. In its ruling the Court found that freedom of choice, and the rights of the individual could be were second to the health of non-smokers.
non-smokers all over the country- myself included, will breathe easier, knowing that the court said that smoking in public building violates the right to health and life of non-smokers.
The case found itself before the court after a smoker launched the case- probably because of the unreasonable demand that people be banned from smoking in schools, courts and other public buildings!
He claimed that not only was smoking good stress-release for citizens, but that smokers help the national economy, because 30 of the budget of local governments come from tobacco taxes!
The case comes after the the government was accused last week of suppressing rates of lung cancer, to keep tobacco sales high.
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non-smokers all over the country- myself included, will breathe easier, knowing that the court said that smoking in public building violates the right to health and life of non-smokers.
The case found itself before the court after a smoker launched the case- probably because of the unreasonable demand that people be banned from smoking in schools, courts and other public buildings!
He claimed that not only was smoking good stress-release for citizens, but that smokers help the national economy, because 30 of the budget of local governments come from tobacco taxes!
The case comes after the the government was accused last week of suppressing rates of lung cancer, to keep tobacco sales high.
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Wednesday, August 25
Trialling the jury system
The Korean justice system is planning to make a huge change- trial by just is coming to a court room near you (or me at least)!
The current system has a judge deciding both guilt or innocence, and then setting a sentence.
There was a mock trial today, displaying the two options that the Supreme Court is considering- the traditional 12 member jury, and the German presiding judge system.
A vote taken by the 836 judges in Korea resulted in more than half wanting a jury system- but most of them wanted to introduce the German model, where 2 citizens sit with 3 judges. The argument was that is it too soon for Korea to change the system over to a full jury trial.
81% of Koreans want to have trial by jury, so the mock trial was held to show people both systems, to what their courts will soon look like, and collect public opinion as t which model to introduce.
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The current system has a judge deciding both guilt or innocence, and then setting a sentence.
There was a mock trial today, displaying the two options that the Supreme Court is considering- the traditional 12 member jury, and the German presiding judge system.
A vote taken by the 836 judges in Korea resulted in more than half wanting a jury system- but most of them wanted to introduce the German model, where 2 citizens sit with 3 judges. The argument was that is it too soon for Korea to change the system over to a full jury trial.
81% of Koreans want to have trial by jury, so the mock trial was held to show people both systems, to what their courts will soon look like, and collect public opinion as t which model to introduce.
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