By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

The government granted pardons Tuesday to some 2.8 million people, mostly minor offenders, on the occasion of President Lee Myung-bak's 100th day in office.

The pardon came as the President's approval rating fell to the 20 percent range from nearly 80 percent three months ago, following a series of policy blunders that were highlighted by the hasty decision to resume U.S. beef imports.

This is the nation's third largest pardon, behind the 5.5 million under former President Kim Dae-jung in March of 1998 and 4.2 million under former President Roh Moo-hyun in August of 2005.

However former politicians, businessmen and other high-ranking officials convicted of crimes were not included among those pardoned.

The beneficiaries include 52 elderly inmates aged over 70, 12 physically challenged prisoners, 21 inmates with serious diseases and 56 in prison workshops for not being able to pay fines of less than 1 million won.

About 2.5 million people will be allowed to drive their car again as their ``penalty points'' will be cancelled.

The move aims to help those who have to make a living by driving a car, a Ministry of Justice official said. Excluded from the pardon were those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol more than twice, drivers causing accidents in which people died, and hit-and-run perpetrators.

Among the excluded business leaders were Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, who was given a suspended jail term and community service for his involvement in a revenge attack for a bar brawl involving his son, and the former and current heads of SK Group _ Son Kil-seung and Chey Tae-won ㅡ who were indicted on corruption charges.

The government has revised the Amnesty Law, which came into effect last March. Under the law, the government must have special pardons reviewed by an amnesty committee under the justice ministry.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr