President-elect calls pardons 'abuse of power'

By Chung Min-uck

President-elect Park Geun-hye denounced President Lee Myung-bak’s plan for special pardons, Monday, describing it as an “abuse of presidential power against the public sentiment.”

“The president-elect has negative views on end-of-the-term special pardons. In particular, Park expressed concerns about pardoning those convicted of corruption and irregularities, which is against the people’s sentiment,” said Cho Yoon-sun, Park’s spokesman, in a briefing at Park’s transition team headquarters in Seoul. “The President-elect thinks, if the pardons are carried out, they would be abusing the presidential power bestowed by the people and going against the will of the people.”

A Cheong Wa Dae official was quoted as saying, “Park’s concerns are understandable, but the special pardons will be granted according to the law and principles, since they are within the President’s authority.”

Lee is expected to issue the pardons Tuesday at the earliest.

Park’s comments come just two days after her transition team publicly opposed Lee’s plan.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) questioned the sincerity of Park’s criticism.

“Lee and Park are both acting to fulfill their respective goals,” said Rep. Moon Byeong-ho, a DUP member, during an emergency committee meeting, Monday. “Lee can get his close aides out of jail and Park can later say she opposed the bad practice.”

Moon said Park should first oppose granting a pardon to Hong Sa-duk, a former six-term lawmaker and close aide to the President-elect.

Reportedly, Hong’s name is being put on the pardon list.

Hong was recently sentenced to imprisonment for accepting illegal political funds.

Critics say Lee is attempting to get close confidants convicted of corruption, such as Choi See-joong, the former chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, and Chun Shin-il, the president’s longtime friend and chairman of Sejoong Namo Tour, out of jail.

Both Choi and Chun, who were convicted of bribery charges last year, gave up appeals against their prison sentences to higher courts last month in a move seen as aimed at being eligible for a pardon. Only those whose sentences are finalized can be eligible for clemency.

Lee Sang-deuk, Lee’s elder brother, appealed his two-year sentence immediately rendering himself ineligible for a pardon.