Hwang Kyo-ik Voices Concerns Over Park's Pardon Daily: "The Candlelight Spirit Won't Be Damaged by Such a Pardon"

Posts uploaded by taste columnist Hwang Kyo-ik after the announcement of the special pardon for former President Park Geun-hye.
[Photo by Hwang Kyo-ik, Facebook capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Taste columnist Hwang Kyo-ik expressed his opinion regarding President Moon Jae-in's decision to grant a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye.

On the 24th, Hwang posted on his Facebook, stating, "The Park Chung-hee era lasted a full 60 years," and added, "Let's end it now. Let's open a new era," drawing attention. He pointed out, "Pardons for politicians always disappoint the public because they are unfair," and criticized, "They use political reconciliation and social integration as an excuse, but the public only sees it as a politically engineered decision."

This statement is interpreted as a critique of President Moon's special pardon decision for former President Park announced the same day. Hwang emphasized, "I hope this will be the last presidential pardon for politicians," and added, "There should be a way for citizens to check the pardon power, which is an exclusive presidential authority." He further stated, "The pardon of Park Geun-hye may remain a political stain on President Moon," and added, "It would be less burdensome to leave the pardon to the next administration, but I believe there must be a significant reason for granting it at this point."

On the same day, Hwang also wrote in another post, "A pardon is a legal forgiveness granted by the state, not forgiveness from the citizens." He explained, "Park Geun-hye has only been legally forgiven," and "She has never apologized to the citizens for her crimes. Park Geun-hye does not deserve the forgiveness of the citizens."

He then posted content stating, "Such a pardon for Park Geun-hye does not damage the spirit of the candlelight citizens at Gwanghwamun Square." Hwang urged, "Putting Park Geun-hye in prison is not the entirety of the candlelight citizens' spirit," and called to "Let go of what should be left in the past, and let's move forward to the future," and "Let's envision the future illuminated by the spirit of the candlelight citizens."

Meanwhile, some reactions note that Hwang's stance is somewhat moderate compared to other criticisms of the former president's pardon. Kim Yong-min, director of Peace Tree, questioned on his Facebook, "No reason can justify President Moon Jae-in's actions that belittle the citizens," and asked, "Did the candlelight citizens seem so insignificant to you?" Lawyer Jung Cheol-seung pointed out on Facebook, "The pardon of Park Geun-hye by the Moon Jae-in Democratic Party regime is an act of betrayal against the candlelight revolution and makes the candlelight citizens look like fools without any justification."

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