I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Lee mulls granting special pardons
By Kang Hyun-kyung
President Lee Myung-bak is considering granting special pardons before Lunar New Year’s Day, which falls on Feb. 10, which will be the last of its kind while he is in office, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.
Lee will end his presidency on Feb. 24 as Park Geun-hye will be sworn in as the new president the next day.
On Wednesday, presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha told reporters that the presidential office has received many petitions calling for clemency for politicians, business leaders, religious leaders and labor union activists who are serving jail terms as the holiday approaches.
“Now Cheong Wa Dae is studying the criteria it will apply if (President Lee) decides to grant special pardons,” he said. The spokesman said that at the moment he is not in a position to comment on who could be pardoned as Cheong Wa Dae is now mulling it. He also opened the possibility that Lee may not grant clemency to anyone.
His remarks hinted it was yet to be decided whether Lee’s relatives and close aides, including the President’s elder brother and former lawmaker Lee Sang-deuk, and Korea Communications Commission chairman Choi See-joong could be included on the list.
Cheong Wa Dae denied media reports that President Lee was mulling granting a pardon to his brother, Choi and Kim Jae-hong, former KT&G chairman and a cousin of first lady Kim Yoon-ok.
Choi, widely known as President Lee’s mentor, is in jail after he was convicted of accepting bribes from real estate developer Picity in return for influence peddling.
Last year, Kim was convicted of taking 390 million won in kickbacks from the chairman of Jeil Savings Bank between September 2008 and April 2011, in exchange for lobbying on behalf of the troubled bank to allow it to survive.
Lee’s brother, who is currently behind bars, will not be eligible for a special pardon if he is to appeal the court’s decision. The court has yet to rule on his case, where he allegedly received cash from businessmen.
Previously, presidents granted clemency to politicians and business leaders before leaving office.
The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) was wary of President Lee’s possible pardons. It said Cheong Wa Dae seems to be preparing to release scandal-ridden figures close to Lee under the guise of clemency, warning the DUP would not sit back if this happens.