Elderly Voices on Death... "Dignified Death Is Necessary"

On the 12th, the Senior Union held a 'Mandatory Death Preparation Education Signature Campaign' in front of Hoegi Station
Announced a press conference urging the introduction of euthanasia law in front of the transition committee
"When death is brought to the surface of society, dignity in death and life is achieved"

On the 12th, the senior citizens' organization, Nonyeon Union, held a "Mandatory Death Preparation Education Petition Rally" in front of Hoegi Station in Seoul.
Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] “No one can escape death!”

On the 12th, about ten elderly people gathered in front of Hoegi Station, where universities such as Kyung Hee University, University of Seoul, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies are located. The senior citizens' organization, Senior Union, held a ‘Mandatory Death Preparation Education Petition Campaign.’ They explained that they conducted the petition campaign on university campuses to promote generational integration and to inform young people early about the dignity of death.

Mr. Han (74), who participated in the petition campaign that day, said, “After taking early retirement from a financial institution in the past, I felt emptiness and fear due to having no social role, but after learning about the dignity of death, I felt vitality in life. I thought it would be good if many people knew about this, which led me to participate in the petition campaign.”

Through the petition campaign, they strongly demanded the ‘Introduction of Active Euthanasia Law’ and the ‘Mandatory Death Preparation Education.’ They argued that beyond simply introducing active euthanasia, a culture where people must receive death preparation education to face death can be formed. Ko Hyun-jong, Secretary General of Senior Union, said, “If mandatory death preparation education is realized, a system that allows people to view life with dignity will be created, and I believe it can also solve issues such as elderly depression and social conflicts.”

Senior Union also announced plans to hold a press conference on the 9th of next month in front of the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Seoul, to urge the introduction of the euthanasia law.

South Korea Blocking Active Euthanasia... "People Should Be Given the Opportunity to Choose Death"

Currently, South Korea distinguishes euthanasia into active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. Passive euthanasia, which involves stopping life-sustaining treatment, has been allowed under certain conditions since the enforcement of the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment in February 2018. However, active euthanasia, which involves choosing death through artificial means such as drugs, is punishable by imprisonment under Article 252 of the Criminal Act as either assisted murder or aiding suicide.

Some countries overseas have adopted active euthanasia. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to implement an euthanasia law in 2002. Following that, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and some regions of Australia have also legally permitted euthanasia. However, many countries do not allow active euthanasia. As a result, cases of ‘euthanasia tourism’ to countries like Switzerland have emerged.

Death preparation education has already been accepted by many countries. The 1970s are considered the period when death preparation education became popularized. Since then, developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan have started teaching ways to view death through public education or university education. In the United States, death education is an officially accredited curriculum in public elementary and middle schools.

Secretary General Ko said, “As South Korea enters an aging society, the number of people who want a dignified death, such as euthanasia, is increasing. They should be given the opportunity to choose death, and when death is brought to the surface of society, both death and life will have dignity.”