'Pardon' Response Delayed... President Moon Faces Time for Another Decision

After the Supreme Court's Final Ruling on Former President Park Geun-hye on the 14th, Attention Turns to the Blue House... The 'Grand Coalition' Backlash During the Roh Moo-hyun Administration and Other Burdens in Clemency Decisions

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] When the Supreme Court delivers its final ruling on former President Park Geun-hye’s retrial on the 14th, political attention is expected to focus on President Moon Jae-in. This is because the time has come to present a solution to the ‘pardon equation,’ which has emerged as a political challenge at the beginning of the year.

If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s decision, former President Park will be confirmed to serve a total of 22 years in prison?20 years for the state affairs manipulation case and 2 years for the nomination interference case. From that point on, it will be President Moon’s time. Until now, the Blue House was able to avoid responding to the issue of pardoning former presidents by citing the reason that the Supreme Court’s final ruling had not yet been made.

The Blue House’s awkward situation can also be seen in recent changes in messaging. On the 7th, at the New Year’s meeting, President Moon emphasized that this year would be a ‘year of unity.’ However, the word ‘unity’ itself disappeared from the presidential New Year’s address on the 11th. Since the word ‘unity’ was perceived as implying a pardon, the administration tried to block controversy by excluding the problematic word from the president’s message.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House was temporarily able to escape the whirlwind of the pardon issue, but the controversy remains unresolved. The fact that Lee Nak-yeon, the leading presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, raised the issue of pardoning former presidents based on political conviction has also increased the Blue House’s concerns.

President Moon cannot continue to postpone mentioning the pardon issue. From the ruling party’s perspective, which is waiting for the April by-elections, it could be a choice that involves taking on political risk.

Ultimately, it is expected that President Moon will present his stance on the pardon in some form, with analyses suggesting he will choose a fundamental message. Experts believe it is highly likely he will avoid choices that clearly take sides for or against the pardon and thus amplify controversy.

Um Kyung-young, director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, analyzed, “During the participatory government, President Roh Moo-hyun attempted a grand coalition but ended up losing even his support base, which President Moon witnessed firsthand, so it will be difficult for him to easily choose a pardon.”

He also added the forecast that even if a pardon is chosen, it will likely be considered for Liberation Day or after the March presidential election next year rather than on this year’s March 1st Movement Day. This means it is difficult to bring out the pardon card during sensitive periods that could provoke political controversy, such as before the Seoul mayoral election or the presidential election.

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