Government Grants Special Pardons to 3,094 People Including Former President Park Geun-hye (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] President Moon Jae-in has decided to grant a special pardon and restore the rights of former President Park Geun-hye, and to restore the rights of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who has completed her sentence.

On the 24th, the government announced that it will carry out a special pardon for 3,094 people, including former presidents, effective on the 31st, ahead of the 2022 New Year.

The pardon targets include former President Park and former Prime Minister Han. Regarding the pardon of former presidents, the government explained, "To overcome the unfortunate history of the past, to achieve great national unity through dialogue, to overcome the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting nationwide crisis with unified strength, and to create an opportunity to take new steps toward the future, former President Park is granted a special pardon and restoration of rights, and former Prime Minister Han is restored."

The government also implemented special reductions for 983,051 people. This includes those subject to administrative sanctions such as suspension of construction business licenses and bidding restrictions, cancellation, suspension, or penalty points on driver's licenses essential for the social activities of ordinary citizens, and cancellation or suspension of fishing licenses for livelihood fishermen.

In addition, labor and civic activists were included. Former Secretary-General of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Lee Young-joo, who was sentenced to probation for leading the 2015 People's Rally, was granted sentence expiration and restoration of rights, and civic activist Song Kyung-dong, who was sentenced to probation for leading the 2011 Hope Bus rallies, was granted restoration of rights.

Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, stated, "The basic purpose of this pardon is to alleviate the burden on the people considering the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the difficulties faced by the public, and to create a turning point for national unity and overcoming the crisis."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice's Pardon Review Committee did not review former President Park's pardon during the meetings on the 20th and 21st. However, it is known that President Moon made the decision to pardon her considering her health condition and the need for national unity at the end of her term.

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