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| Former President Park Geun-hye leaves the Seoul Central District Court after a hearing for her corruption allegations in this October 2017 photo. She has been in prison since March 31, 2017. / Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
Opposition lawmakers close to jailed former President Park Geun-hye are calling for a special pardon for the jailed head of state on the occasion of Liberation Day that falls on Saturday.
However, the ruling party is rejecting the idea, saying it would be unconstitutional given that charges against her are still pending. Plus, President Moon Jae-in is reluctant to pardon imprisoned politicians.
Park was removed from the presidency in March 2017 due to her involvement in a massive power abuse and corruption scandal. The official charges against her include conspiring with her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil to force conglomerates to donate 77.4 billion won ($65.2 million) to two foundations under Choi's control. She was also indicted on charges of accepting off-the-book funds worth 3.5 billion won from three former heads of the National Intelligence Service from May 2013 to September 2016 in collusion with her secretaries.
In last month's appellate court ruling, Park, 68, had her sentence of 20 years in jail and a fine of 20 billion won upheld. The prosecution then lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court.
"I hope President Moon will make efforts to restore Gwanghwamun Square, which has turned into a symbol of division, into one of national unity and to this end, Park needs to be pardoned," Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, an independent lawmaker, wrote on Facebook, Tuesday.
"Park has been in jail for 40 months, the longest prison term served by any former president."
The four-term lawmaker, one of Park's former key aides, served as a special advisor for political affairs in the Park administration.
Rep. Park Dae-chul of the main opposition United Future Party also said on Facebook, "The former president will have been in jail for 1,234 days on Liberation Day, which is being cruel to her."
He added: "I am begging President Moon to pardon her. We have to give her freedom."
However, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Park was not subject to a special pardon, citing her ongoing trial. In principle, a special pardon is only possible when a person's sentence is finalized.
"Any special pardon is up to President Moon, but he cannot exercise this right because her sentence has not been finalized yet," DPK deputy spokesman Cho Sang-ho said.
Justice Party spokesman Kim Jong-cheol added, "Park still faces serious charges that should not be taken lightly, so she should not be granted a special pardon simply because she is a former president."
Since his inauguration in May 2017, President Moon has pardoned only two politicians ― former lawmaker Chung Bong-ju and former Gangwon Province Governor Lee Kwang-jae.
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