An Min-seok: "Lee Nak-yeon’s Pardon Proposal Adds Fuel to the Public’s Anger"

Ahn Min-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on September 28./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] On the 4th, Ahn Min-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said about Lee Nak-yeon, who mentioned the pardon of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, "It seems to have poured oil on the very angry public sentiment."

On the same day, Ahn said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "At the end of last year, Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim was detained, and with the return of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the very angry public sentiment hoping for prosecution reform, the weekend's talk of pardons seems to have poured oil on that anger."

He added, "I believe that a pardon and reinstatement without apology and reflection will not be accepted by the public. If pardoned, the first words upon release from prison would be that justice and truth have prevailed, so does that mean the public was wrong?"

He continued, "There is an expectation that once the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is launched soon, issues like the truth about the Sewol ferry disaster or hidden illicit assets can be resolved, but the argument for pardon and reinstatement dampens these hopes," and pointed out, "The decision on pardons should be made by the public, not by the political sphere."

Additionally, Ahn said, "Mentioning this issue without any apology or reflection from the two former presidents has damaged sincerity and has put the person himself in a rather awkward situation," and argued, "Now is the time for the political sphere to focus on COVID-19 measures, real estate issues, and solving these livelihood economy problems rather than on the timing of pardons."

He also said, "Even among lawmakers, opinions are divided, which is acting as a conflicting factor within the Democratic Party," and added, "Especially with the election approaching, I think this is a very unfavorable agenda for the Democratic Party. To win, they need to gain support from the moderate voters, but there is significant backlash from party members against the pardon theory, and it seems the core supporters are about to leave."

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