Ruling party chief reviewing proposed pardoning of ex-presidents

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Nak-yon answers reporters after paying tribute to patriots buried at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, Friday, New Year's Day. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon is seeking to propose pardons for former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, who have been behind bars on corruption charges, to President Moon Jae-in.

"I will propose pardons for the two former presidents to President Moon Jae-in at an appropriate time," Lee said during a New Year interview with local news agency Yonhap. Lee said the pardons of the two former presidents could be a way to promote reconciliation and overcome the ideological gap between conservatives and liberals.

"This year is the de facto final year for President Moon to practice policies, and this matter (of pardoning the two former presidents) needs to be solved at a right time," Lee said. "I am seeking to propose it (to President Moon) apart from pros and cons from the supporters of the ruling bloc. … The party will have to play a more active role from now on."

As former President Lee was sentenced to 17 years by the Supreme Court last October while Park is still on trial, a special pardon and suspension of sentence will be sought for each case, if President Moon pardons the two former presidents.

Political parties showed different reactions to Lee's suggestion.

Kim Chong-in, emergency committee chief of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) whose predecessors produced the two former conservative presidents, told reporters Friday after paying tribute to patriots buried at Seoul National Cemetery that DPK Chairman Lee hasn't consulted him about the plan. Last month, Kim apologized for the crimes of the former presidents to vow to the public that the party would push ahead with reforms to become an opposition that can hold the liberal party in check.

Minor opposition People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, who declared his bid recently for the Seoul mayoral by-election in April, told reporters, after paying tribute to patriots buried at Seoul National Cemetery, that the matter of pardoning the former presidents should not be used for political purposes. "This is a matter in which the consensus of the whole people of the nation is important," Ahn said.

Progressive minor opposition Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol criticized Lee, saying pardoning the former presidents is not the right way to realize social justice.

Far-right minor opposition Our Republican Party, whose members have been staging rallies to support Park's pardon using Korea's national flag as symbol, welcomed Lee's stance.

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