Kim Du-gwan "Lee Jae-yong's Parole Should Not Be Allowed... Lee Jae-myung Also Needs to State His Position"

"Silence at This Time Is Synonymous with Approval and Agreement"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Kim Du-kwan, a presidential candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated regarding the parole of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, "Whether it is a pardon or parole, I oppose any form of privilege granted by the government to Lee Jae-yong simply because he is a chaebol."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, Kim said on Facebook, "The pardon and parole of Lee Jae-yong is a signal that betrays the candlelight citizens who impeached the corrupt power colluding with chaebols and wished for a fair country, and joins hands with the vested interest cartel," adding, "The Ministry of Justice must never allow the parole of Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong."

That afternoon, the Ministry of Justice held a closed parole review committee meeting at the Government Complex Gwacheon and began reviewing the eligibility for parole of candidates including Lee Jae-yong. Lee met the parole requirement by completing 60% of his sentence at the end of last month. However, opinions for and against his parole are clashing in the political sphere.

Kim said, "If one has committed a crime, they must be punished, and the greater the power one holds, the greater the responsibility they must bear, which is fairness," and added, "The parole or special pardon of Lee Jae-yong betrays the candlelight spirit that brought about the Moon Jae-in administration."

He continued, "It is time for all Democratic Party primary candidates, who present fairness as their highest principle, to clarify their positions," questioning the candidates within the party.

He said, "Especially, candidate Lee Jae-myung, who was the first to declare opposition to Lee Jae-yong’s pardon in 2017, should clarify his stance first," and criticized, "His recent remarks that chaebols should not be discriminated against in parole seem like a lawyer’s typical principled argument that tries to avoid sensitive issues rather than a genuine principle." He added, "He should know well that silence at this time is synonymous with approval."

Kim accused, "Even if chaebols embezzle billions of won, bribe those in power, and shake the country, they receive a light punishment of two years and six months, and now there are calls to pardon him because he has served 60% of his sentence, yet fairness and justice cannot be spoken of," and asked, "Is Lee Jae-yong’s parole a case of protecting the strong and suppressing the weak? Is it fairness? I ask candidate Lee Jae-myung."

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