Presidential pardons to set free guilty tycoons - again
By Choi Sung-jin
One of the Park Geun-hye’s administration’s economic principles has been “zero tolerance” policy toward white collar crimes, particularly those committed by owners of family-controlled conglomerates.
That will likely change ― once again ― around the National Liberation Day on Aug. 15, which, along with the March 1 Independence Movement Day and a few other national festivities, has long been an occasion to give presidential pardons to “model prisoners.”
At a Cheong Wa Dae meeting Monday, President Park said she would introduce a special amnesty on the 71st anniversary of the national liberation from Japan’s colonial rule, to “unite people’s strength and give opportunities to rise again.” Park’s special pardon, the third of its kind, was decided at her dinner meeting with governing party lawmakers Friday, political sources said.
The eyes of business community are on who will be on the list of beneficiaries among well-known entrepreneurs-prisoners.
About 10 chaebol owners have been indicted and tried under the two conservative governments. Among those in jail are CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun, Taekwang Group Chairman Lee Ho-jin, Dongkuk Steel Chairman Chang Se-joo, former Tongyang Group Chairman Hyun Jae-hyun, former STX Group Chairman Kang Duk-soo, SK Group Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, and LIG Next 1 Vice Chairman, Koo Bon-sang.
Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Suk-rai has been indicted without detention on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust. Cho was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at the lower court and his appeal is pending. Shin Young-ja, chairwoman of Lotte Scholarship Foundation, is in custody on charges of taking bribes and embezzlement and is awaiting a trial. Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn finished serving his prison term in 2014, but is still in probation. Orion Group Chairman Tam Cheol-gon has been indicted but received a suspended prison term.
Political watchers say a very limited number of these tycoons will be released by special pardons because one of President Park’s campaign pledges was zero tolerance for white collar criminals.
Noting that 14 entrepreneurs who were released last Aug. 15, including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, had served at least two-thirds of their terms, the sources said only a few, such as Hanwha Group Chairman Kim and SK Group Vice Chairman Chey, would be eligible for the special pardon this year.
Kim has been actively cooperating for the Park administration’s economic policies, such as setting up regional centers for creative economy and taking the lead in the ongoing industrial restructuring by taking over the defense and petrochemical units from the Samsung Group. Chey has almost finished serving his time.
Others are either till facing trials, had served less than half of their terms or had committed offences that were too serious crimes to expect leniency, they said.
Political parties had mixed responses to the news.
A ruling Saenuri Party spokesperson said, “Korea and Koreans are feeling tired of the economic crisis, social conflicts and national security concerns because of North Korea’s missile threats. Special pardons will help to ease the national fatigue.”
Opposition parties were skeptical, saying they would see whether the pardons would help national unity as the government claimed. The splinter People’s Party said in a statement, “We don’t oppose the August 15 pardon itself, but it should be for the poor and weak, and exclude politicians and business magnates.”
A commentator, while noting that special pardons should be really special, asked how long Koreans should tolerate the periodical breakdown of the rule of law under the pretext of economic recovery and national unity.