"Park Geun-hye Is a Criminal... Petition Opposing Pardon Emerges"

"'In the Candlelight Government,' being pardoned without serving even half the sentence is an insult to the people"

Former President Park Geun-hye [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A Blue House petition opposing the pardon of former President Park Geun-hye has emerged.

On the 24th, a post titled "Opposing the Pardon of Park Geun-hye" was posted on the Blue House petition board.

The petitioner stated, "Park Geun-hye is a criminal who committed unprecedented crimes such as 'private influence peddling' and 'state affairs manipulation,' forgetting the president's duty to comply with and uphold the constitution," and added, "Park Geun-hye became the first president in the history of the Republic of Korea to be impeached. Subsequently, various criminal suspicions were proven true, and she was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with a scheduled release in 2039."

The petitioner continued, "The impeachment of Park Geun-hye was a remarkable achievement and success of 21st-century democracy realized by the Korean people through candlelight protests," and said, "The Moon Jae-in administration was inaugurated as a 'candlelight government' that embraced those candlelight protests. If Park Geun-hye is pardoned without serving even half of her sentence under such a government, it would be a betrayal, an insult, and a deception to the people."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board Capture

The petitioner also urged, "I hope for a firm promise from President Moon Jae-in and his administration not to pardon Park Geun-hye during their term," adding, "No matter who the person was as president, before history and the rule of law, they are just an ordinary citizen. Even if the constitution guarantees it, for a sitting president to recklessly exercise the pardon power for a former president who committed crimes is itself an abuse of the power entrusted by the people and a direct violation of the spirit of democracy. Please confirm this."

Meanwhile, Blue House spokesperson Park Kyung-mi conveyed on the same day that President Moon Jae-in said regarding Park's special pardon, "We must overcome the pains of the past era and move forward to a new era," and added, "Now is the time to boldly unite our strength toward the future rather than being stuck in the past and fighting each other. Considering the numerous challenges ahead of us, above all, national unity and humble inclusion are urgently needed."

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