"Why Publicly Disclose Pardon Recommendations?"... Joo Jin-hyung Criticizes Lee Nak-yeon for Recommending Pardons for MB and Park

Joo Jin-hyung, Supreme Council Member of the Open Democratic Party, is speaking at a press conference related to the 4th supplementary budget held at the National Assembly on September 16. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] On the 1st, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, publicly announced that he would recommend pardons for former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye to President Moon Jae-in, prompting Ju Jin-hyung, Supreme Council Member of the Open Democratic Party, to criticize it as "inappropriate."

On the 2nd, Supreme Council Member Ju posted on his SNS, "Upon seeing the news that Lee Nak-yeon publicly announced he would recommend pardons for former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye to President Moon, a thought suddenly came to me," and said, "It is inappropriate."

He continued, "Even if he makes the recommendation, why do it publicly?" and said, "A pardon is the president's exclusive authority. Even if recommended, the president decides."

He added, "Whatever the decision, it will cause much controversy," and pointed out, "There may be people around who recommend pardons and others who oppose them, but if they truly care for the president, it is appropriate to convey opinions privately."

Supreme Council Member Ju said, "A public recommendation narrows the discretion of the decision-maker to decide the timing and method they consider appropriate, regardless of approval or disapproval," and criticized, "It can put that much burden on the decision-maker, so if on the same side, such matters are not made public."

In particular, he said, "If it were not someone else but the ruling party leader and a leading candidate for the next presidential election to make such a public recommendation, and if President Moon grants the pardon, it would appear as if it happened because Lee Nak-yeon recommended it," and reiterated, "If President Moon gains something through the pardon, it would look like Lee Nak-yeon is hijacking it."

He continued, "Lee Nak-yeon is not someone who would be unaware of this," and said, "If he still did so, it could be a signal that he intends to distance himself from the current administration and establish himself as an independent candidate, or it could be a statement made after prior consultation with the Blue House."

Earlier on the 1st, in a New Year interview, Leader Lee stated, "I will recommend pardons for former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye as a key to national unity," stirring the political sphere. Members of the same party, Woo Sang-ho and Kim Nam-guk, criticized it as "inappropriate," and Kim Jong-cheol, leader of the Justice Party, also took a hard stance, demanding "withdrawal of the position." Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, expressed a sharp reaction, saying, "If there is an attempt to use the pardons of the two former presidents for election purposes, it is unacceptable."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.