By Chung Min-uck
President Lee Myung-bak plans to issue special pardons for his close associates as early as Tuesday, said a senior official of Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday.
On Saturday, Yoon Chang-joong strongly complained about Lee’s plan, calling for the “severing” of the link in the chain of such an end-of-term practice. On Sunday, Yoon stood by his statement, although he declined to comment further.
The presidential aide said, “The justice ministry has recently completed its review of a special pardon proposal by the president and it is likely to be dealt at a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday.”
The move comes amid growing tension between the outgoing head of state and President-elect Park Geun-hye surrounding the issue.
Park’s power transition team Saturday opposed Lee granting special pardons ahead of the lunar New Year’s Day which falls on Feb. 10. Team spokesman Yoon Chang-jung told a news briefing, “pardons for those implicated in corruption and other irregularities are against the public sentiment” and indicated that the remarks reflects Park’s view.
Cheong Wa Dae sticks to the point that “granting special pardons is a president’s own authority” and will be executed “according to law and principles.”
Reportedly, the president’s close confidants such as Choi See-joong, former chairman of Korea Communications Commission, and Chun Shin-il, the president’s longtime friend and chairman of Sejoong Namo Tour, are allegedly included on the pardon list.
Choi and Chun were convicted of bribery charges last year and gave up on appealing their prison sentences to higher courts last month. The move is seen as a measure of getting ready for the special pardon.
Lee Sang-deuk, Lee’s brother, on Friday appealed his two-year sentence rendering himself ineligible for a pardon. He was found guilty of receiving bribes from a local company.
Presidents here have issued pardons to commemorate important holidays, such as the Liberation Day, marking Korea's independence from Japan's colonial rule, or traditional holidays like the Lunar New Year's Day. Critics say it hurts the rule of law as state authority can easily be abused for personal causes.
It has been a practice to issue special pardons at the end of a president’s term.
Observers expect the conflict between the incoming and outgoing powers to escalate after Lee grants pardons to his close aides, leading to a possible deadlock in the course of power transition.
Park will take office on Feb. 25 and the transition process should be completed before that.
Meanwhile, the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) supported Park’s remarks.
Both Lee and Park are members of the ruling party.
“Although issuing a special pardon is the president’s legal right, it should not be abused and should take public sentiment into consideration," said Lee Sang-il, the party’s spokesman.
“The transition team's stance toward special pardons shows that the President-elect respects the views of the public and the opposition," said DUP spokesman Park Yong-jin. “Lee should not issue pardons for his convicted relatives and confidants at the end of his term.”