Ministry of Justice to Hold Pardon Review Committee on 23rd... No Extension of MB's Sentence Suspension

Former President Lee Myung-bak [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Ministry of Justice will hold a pardon review committee meeting on the morning of the 23rd to conduct a preliminary review of candidates for the New Year's special pardon. Amid expectations that many political figures, including former President Lee Myung-bak and former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, will be pardoned, attention is focused on what conclusion President Yoon Seok-yeol, who holds the final decision-making power, will reach.

According to the legal community on the 18th, the pardon review committee, composed of nine members including ex officio members such as Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, Vice Minister Ino-gong, Prosecutor General Shin Ja-yong, and Kim Seon-hwa, head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Sentencing and Execution Department, as well as five appointed members such as professors and lawyers, will hold a meeting on the 23rd.

The pardon review committee will make the final selection of candidates for special pardon and report to President Yoon, who holds the pardon authority. The pardoned individuals are expected to be pardoned at midnight on the 28th after going through the Cabinet meeting presided over by the Prime Minister on the 27th.

Since the Liberation Day special pardon last August focused on "livelihood and economic recovery," resulting in many pardons for businesspeople, it is anticipated that this time, many politicians will be included among the pardon candidates.

In particular, the pardon status of former President Lee Myung-bak is a matter of interest. The remaining prison term for former President Lee is about 15 years. The prevailing view is that a pardon is likely. Reflecting this, former President Lee has announced that he will not apply for an extension of his suspension of sentence, which expires on the 28th.

Former President Lee, who is serving his sentence at Anyang Prison, applied for an extension of suspension of sentence to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch in June due to "health reasons," and the prosecution decided on a three-month suspension of sentence on June 28. Accordingly, he was temporarily released after serving one year and seven months of his 17-year prison sentence confirmed for charges including embezzlement and bribery.

Ahead of the expiration of the suspension of sentence, former President Lee applied for an extension in September, and this application was also accepted. He is currently receiving outpatient treatment at his residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

However, public opinion on the special pardon for former President Lee is unfavorable, posing a variable. According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) conducted from the 12th to the 14th by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research targeting 1,000 adult men and women nationwide, 39% supported the special pardon for former President Lee, while 53% opposed it.

Former Governor of Gyeongnam Kim Kyung-soo [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Kyung-soo, a representative 'Pro-Moon' (pro-Moon Jae-in) politician and former Gyeongnam Governor, is also expected to be included among the pardon candidates.

Kim, who was sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court in July last year for the 'Druking comment manipulation case,' will be released upon completion of his sentence in May next year. Since only a short time remains on his sentence, the focus is on whether he will be subject to reinstatement of political rights, opening the door to a political comeback, rather than just a pardon.

If pardoned without reinstatement, his eligibility to run for office will be restricted until May 2028.

Meanwhile, Kim has expressed that he does not want a pardon without reinstatement. According to Democratic Party lawmaker Ki Dong-min, Kim said, "I do not want parole. I will not be a mere accessory to former President Lee's pardon." He added, "If it is for national unity, then pardon and reinstate rights in a genuine and bold manner. If not, do not show a shabby appearance of just going through the motions to complement former President Lee alone."

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