President Roh Moo-hyun plans to grant a special pardon to about a hundred convicted business leaders, politicians and others before the end of this year, presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said Sunday.
Those who could be included in the beneficiaries of Roh's last special pardon are Daewoo Group founder Kim Woo-choong; Halla Engineering & Construction Chairman Chung Mong-won; and Choi Won-suk, former chairman of the now-defunct Dong-Ah Group who was convicted of corruption charges, Cheong Wa Dae sources said. Roh's five-year term ends in February.
In November last year, Kim was convicted of embezzlement, accounting fraud and other charges related to the collapse of Daewoo in 1999.
Others beneficiaries of the special amnesty will include Hahn Hwa-gap, former chairman of the minor opposition Democratic Party who was convicted of corruption charges, according to the sources.
Park Jie-won, who served as chief of staff for former President Kim Dae-jung, may be able to resume political activity, they said. Park was pardoned last February.
Cheon said the final decision on Roh's special pardon is due this week, but could be delayed until early next week depending on the schedule of the Cabinet.