Presidential Office: "Pardon Will Be Granted in Accordance with Constitution, Rule of Law, Public Opinion, and Common Sense"

Kim Kyung-soo's Preemptive Refusal of Pardon: "Pardon Details and Principles Not Yet Disclosed... Mention Inappropriate"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office stated on the 14th regarding the year-end special pardon, "We believe it will be carried out based on the spirit of the Constitution and the rule of law, in accordance with public opinion and common sense."

Regarding former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who proactively refused the pardon, saying he would not be a mere prop for the pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak, the office drew a line by saying, "It is not appropriate to talk about a specific person when the content and principles of the pardon have not yet been disclosed."

A Presidential Office official said on the afternoon of the 14th at the Yongsan Presidential Office, "The pardon is clearly the president's inherent authority as stipulated in the Constitution. We have nothing to say yet about any criteria, principles, or targets of the pardon."

When a reporter asked, "Can a person who does not admit their wrongdoing in a Supreme Court final ruling also be a target of the Yoon administration's pardon?" the official replied, "It is not appropriate to talk about a specific person when the content and principles of the pardon have not yet been disclosed," adding, "There will be an opportunity to explain the principles and content of (President Yoon's) pardon."

When asked about reports that anonymous Presidential Office officials expressed displeasure at former Governor Kim's refusal of the pardon, the office again drew a line, saying, "It is not appropriate for us to talk about a specific person when the principles and content of the pardon have not been disclosed."

In the political sphere, while there are expectations that former President Lee Myung-bak will be included among the year-end special pardon recipients, the name of former Governor Kim is being mentioned as an opposition figure.

Kim Kyung-soo's spouse, Kim Jeong-soon, revealed the original document through Kim's social media (SNS), stating that he submitted a "petition to refuse parole" on the 7th, expressing that he does not wish to be paroled from prison.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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