Large-Scale Commutation Expected Instead of 3.1 Independence Movement Day Special Amnesty

Ministry of Justice Holds Confidential Parole Review Committee
De Facto Last Special Pardon of Current Government
Lee Myung-bak Excluded Due to Remaining Sentence
Possibility of Lee Jae-yong's Pardon After Parole
Chance of 'One-Point' Pardon Like Park Geun-hye
About 1,100 Expected Due to COVID-19 Impact

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The government is reportedly set to carry out a large-scale 'COVID-19 parole' without special amnesty in celebration of the March 1st Movement Day.

According to the legal community on the 16th, the Ministry of Justice held a closed meeting of the March 1st Parole Review Committee the day before to discuss this plan. Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye told reporters, "There are no special instructions so far," and as of the morning of the same day, it was confirmed that there were no ongoing tasks related to special amnesty at prosecution offices nationwide. For the Ministry of Justice to grant special amnesty, it must receive lists of candidates from prosecution offices across the country at least a month in advance and go through a selection process.

The legal community had anticipated the March 1st Movement Day as the last special amnesty period under the current administration. This is because President Moon Jae-in's term ends at midnight on May 9, making it practically difficult to carry out special amnesty on Buddha’s Birthday, May 8.

Former President Lee Myung-bak, former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong have been mentioned as candidates for special amnesty. Former President Lee is not eligible for parole as he has not served one-third of his sentence, so special amnesty is the only way for his release. It is known that he was excluded from parole consideration at the review committee meeting the day before. Vice Chairman Lee has been released on parole, and there is speculation about the possibility of special amnesty to lift various legal restrictions, but this also appears uncertain at present. However, there remains a possibility of a 'one-point amnesty.' This refers to a special amnesty carried out abruptly by the president’s decision, who holds the exclusive authority for amnesty. Former President Park Geun-hye’s release as a New Year’s special amnesty on December 31 last year was also a one-point amnesty.

Instead, the Ministry of Justice is considering increasing the number of parolees significantly to around 1,000 to 1,100, which is much larger than usual. Compared to the 475 parolees in the New Year’s special amnesty on December 31 last year, this is a considerable scale. This measure is in response to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in correctional facilities nationwide. Accordingly, the parolees are expected to mainly include elderly inmates, patients, and those with weakened immune systems. According to the Ministry of Justice, as of this day, 412 people at Seoul Eastern Detention Center (395 inmates, 17 staff), 102 people at Incheon Detention Center (98 inmates, 4 staff), 22 people at Hwaseong Foreigners Protection Center in Gyeonggi (7 staff, 15 protected foreigners), and 3 protected foreigners at Yeosu Immigration Office in Jeonnam have tested positive for COVID-19.

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