2,493 convicts to be pardoned on Liberation Day

The government will give special pardons to about 2,500 convicted criminals, including politicians and business executives, on the occasion of the anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, which falls on Sunday this year, the Justice Ministry said Friday.

The ministry said that a total of 2,493 convicts will be pardoned, reinstated, or receive commutation under the government's effort to boost social unity while celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.

The largest group of people to receive the presidential pardons were 2,375 illegal campaigners who were convicted of violating election laws in the 2006 local elections and the 2007 presidential election, while 91 criminal offenders and 27 foreign inmates and underprivileged criminals were to be granted the pardon. Sex offenders were excluded from the list.

"The special pardon aims at social unity and resolution of political conflicts by embracing former lawmakers, government officials, local governors and illegal campaigners," an official at the ministry said.

The list included former president Roh Moo-hyun's brother Geon-pyeong and Kim One-ki, a former National Assembly speaker who belongs to the main opposition Democratic Party.

A number of former and current business leaders, including Lee Hak-soo, former vice chairman at Samsung Electronics, and Dongbu Group chairman Kim Jun-ki, were included in the list.

In addition, a total of 5,685 former and incumbent government officials who have been under disciplinary action will also receive exemption for their offenses committed prior to the Lee administration taking office in February 2008.

A special pardon for a top aide to Park Geun-hye is expected to help patch up a conflict between the GNP factions led by Lee and Park, who remain at odds since their fierce race in 2007 to become the party's standard-bearer in the presidential election.

Lee stressed "social integration and unity" regarding the pardon for Suh Chung-won as well as those who violated election laws during the 2008 general election, an exceptional decision as the government had decided to select among those who were convicted prior to the current administration.

"The special pardons and reinstatements for the economic figures were aimed at giving them opportunities to contribute to society and create jobs through business activities amid the ongoing economic crisis," Lee was quoted as saying by his spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung.