President Moon's last amnesty should be based on consensus
President Moon Jae-in is considering pardoning former President Lee Myung-bak, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo, one of his close confidants, on the occasion of May 8 Buddha's Birthday, a day before his five-year term ends.
In a recent meeting with Cheong Wa Dae reporters on April 25, Moon said, "It's true that people from all walks of life are requesting pardons. But I think the public's support or consensus must be the standard for pardons." In his response to online petitions opposing former President Lee's amnesty, Friday, however, Moon said he will determine whether to pardon him after taking judicial and public consensus into consideration, noting that there were not only cons but also pros to the proposed pardon. Moon's nuanced remark was interpreted as suggesting a higher likelihood of a pardon.
Clemency is the president's constitutional right, but it must be exercised exceptionally and restrictively. Granting a special pardon to former President Lee, who is serving a 17-year prison term for embezzlement and bribery, makes sense, given the need for national unity. Pardoning the Samsung CEO, who was released on parole last August, also has a point, considering that his amnesty could help overcome imminent economic difficulties.
But requests for pardoning the former South Gyeongsang governor sound absurd, given that he shook the foundations of democracy by manipulating public opinion. It's also senseless to call for releasing Chung Kyung-shim, the wife of scandal-plagued former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who has not even acknowledged her crime yet.
Most former presidents used to release their close associates right before their terms end. Roh Moo-hyun pardoned Choi Do-sul, one of his aides, through his last special amnesty in December 2007, and Lee Myung-bak also released Choi See-joong, the former head of the Korea Communications Commission, in January 2013. The time has come for the nation to prevent the abuse of presidential pardons to rebuild the basis for the rule of law.
President Moon Jae-in is considering pardoning former President Lee Myung-bak, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo, one of his close confidants, on the occasion of May 8 Buddha's Birthday, a day before his five-year term ends.
In a recent meeting with Cheong Wa Dae reporters on April 25, Moon said, "It's true that people from all walks of life are requesting pardons. But I think the public's support or consensus must be the standard for pardons." In his response to online petitions opposing former President Lee's amnesty, Friday, however, Moon said he will determine whether to pardon him after taking judicial and public consensus into consideration, noting that there were not only cons but also pros to the proposed pardon. Moon's nuanced remark was interpreted as suggesting a higher likelihood of a pardon.
Clemency is the president's constitutional right, but it must be exercised exceptionally and restrictively. Granting a special pardon to former President Lee, who is serving a 17-year prison term for embezzlement and bribery, makes sense, given the need for national unity. Pardoning the Samsung CEO, who was released on parole last August, also has a point, considering that his amnesty could help overcome imminent economic difficulties.
But requests for pardoning the former South Gyeongsang governor sound absurd, given that he shook the foundations of democracy by manipulating public opinion. It's also senseless to call for releasing Chung Kyung-shim, the wife of scandal-plagued former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who has not even acknowledged her crime yet.
Most former presidents used to release their close associates right before their terms end. Roh Moo-hyun pardoned Choi Do-sul, one of his aides, through his last special amnesty in December 2007, and Lee Myung-bak also released Choi See-joong, the former head of the Korea Communications Commission, in January 2013. The time has come for the nation to prevent the abuse of presidential pardons to rebuild the basis for the rule of law.
