SK Chairman Chey Tae-won released

Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, was released Friday in a special pardon after completing nearly three years of his sentence.

Walking out with a Bible in hand from Uijeongbu prison, he bowed in apology and said that he would do his utmost for the “development of Korean economy and society.”

“I deeply apologize for causing concern to the public,” said Chey. “SK Group will work to be reborn as a group embraced by the public,” he said. Chey was serving a four-year jail term for embezzlement since January 2013.

He was among the 14 notable business figures who were pardoned ahead of the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day that falls on Saturday.

Other business leaders pardoned included Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Hyun-chung and Yeochun NCC CEO Hong Dong-wook were included. All in all, 6,527 people received the special pardons announced Thursday.