Ruling Camp Seeks Special Pardon for CEOs, Politicians
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Grand National Party (GNP) Chairman Park Hee-tae urged the government Monday to include politicians and corporate executives in the list of people to be granted special pardons on the occasion of Liberation Day which falls on Aug. 15.
``Several months have passed since President Lee Myung-bak took office. The pardons for politicians and corporate executives are necessary for Lee to make a fresh start,'' Park said in a radio program.
The remarks followed reports that Cheong Wa Dae is moving to give special pardons to a large number of politicians and corporate chairmen, including Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo and SK Group Chairman Chey Tai-won.
Besides Chung and Chey, business lobby groups have called for pardons for Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn; former Dongah Group Chairman Choi Won-seok; former Jinro Group Chairman Chang Jin-ho; and former Haitai Group Chairman Park Gun-bae.
Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung has been convicted of embezzling over 90 billion won of company money to create a slush fund. He received a three-year prison term suspended for five years.
SK Group Chairman Chey was also found guilty of accounting fraud and embezzlement. The court sentenced him to three years in prison suspended for five years.
``There will be special amnesty for some politicians and businessmen on Aug. 15, but it will take some time to decide on the scale,'' a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said.
The Ministry of Justice will soon convene a meeting of a committee comprising five senior ministry officials and four legal experts to pick beneficiaries for the special pardons.
President Lee gave special pardons and relieved sentences for 150 people on June 3 on the occasion of the first 100 days of his presidency. He also pardoned 2.8 million people, mostly minor traffic offenders. No politicians and corporate executives were included in the amnesty.
Opposition parties criticized Lee for trying to abuse his authority by granting pardons to politicians and business tycoons.
``Like his predecessors, Lee is trying to stand above the law by giving pardons to corrupt politicians and businessmen. Lee should drop the plan immediately,'' the Democratic Labor Party said in a statement.
In South Korea, the President usually offers special pardons and releases a large number of inmates on parole on the occasion of Liberation Day.