Mass Special Pardons for Politicians Including MB... Kim Kyung-soo Granted Sentence Exemption Without Reinstatement (Comprehensive)

Former President Lee Myung-bak, Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo of Gyeongnam

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Former President Lee Myung-bak will be released through a special New Year's pardon.

The government finalized and announced 1,373 individuals eligible for the special New Year's pardon at the Cabinet meeting on the 27th. The pardon will take effect at midnight on the 28th. As predicted by political and legal circles, former President Lee was pardoned and reinstated. Former President Lee was prosecuted on charges including embezzlement and bribery through the auto parts company DAS, and in October 2020, the Supreme Court confirmed a 17-year prison sentence, which he has been serving. Currently, due to health reasons, the execution of his sentence has been exempted, and he is receiving treatment while moving between the hospital and his home. With this pardon confirmed, the remaining 15 years of his sentence have also been exempted.

The government mainly pardoned politicians and public officials this time, including former President Lee. This contrasts with the August 15 Liberation Day special pardon, which focused on business figures. Nine politicians were pardoned and reinstated, and 66 public officials were pardoned, had their sentences reduced, or were reinstated. Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo of Gyeongnam was exempted from serving the remaining sentence without reinstatement. Former Governor Kim was serving a two-year prison sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court in July last year for the 'Druking comment manipulation' case. His sentence will expire in May next year. Since only the remaining sentence was exempted, his eligibility to run for office will be restricted until May 2028.

The government explained that former Governor Kim was not reinstated because his crime was a large-scale public opinion manipulation during the presidential election process, considering his position and role at the time.

Major figures from the Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak administrations will also be pardoned in large numbers. From the Park Geun-hye administration, former Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon and former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun, who were involved in the so-called 'white list' allegations of illegal support to conservative groups, along with their secretaries, and former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Woo Byung-woo, who was involved in illegal surveillance allegations using the National Intelligence Service, will be reinstated.

Former Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Ki-chun, Former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun [Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Choi Yoon-soo, who was sentenced to probation on the 16th for involvement in the so-called 'blacklist' operation, will have his sentence nullified (removal of the effect of probation or suspended sentence) and be reinstated.

The 'three key aides' of the Park Geun-hye administration, former Blue House secretaries An Bong-geun, Lee Jae-man, and Jung Ho-sung, who were involved in the National Intelligence Service special activity funds bribery case, will also be reinstated. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Kyung-hwan, who was released on parole after receiving bribes in the form of National Intelligence Service special activity funds, will have his remaining sentence exempted and be reinstated.

Former Blue House Economic Secretary Cho Won-dong, who participated in the 'CJ coercion attempt in the state affairs manipulation' case, former National Intelligence Service directors Nam Jae-joon, Lee Byung-gi, and Lee Byung-ho, who were involved in the special activity funds bribery case, and former National Intelligence Service Planning Director Lee Heon-soo will also be reinstated.

Among high-ranking officials of the Lee Myung-bak administration, former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Min Byung-hwan (remaining sentence exempted and reinstated) and former Psychological Warfare Team Director Yoo Sung-ok (reinstated) were included in the pardon list.

Former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon, who was sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison for leading the 'comment manipulation' case, was subject to a sentence reduction, cutting his remaining sentence in half. His remaining sentence is about seven years, so with this pardon, he will be released in about three years.

Former Busan District Prosecutor General Jang Ho-joong, involved in the 'comment investigation obstruction' case, and former Blue House Secretary Kim Jin-mo, suspected of illegally receiving National Intelligence Service special activity funds, were reinstated. Former Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Chae-pil, suspected of supporting the establishment of a pro-government labor union, had his sentence nullified and was reinstated.

Other military-related figures involved in the 'military comment manipulation' case, such as former Defense Security Command Commander Bae Deuk-sik (sentence execution exempted and reinstated), and former Cyber Command Commanders Yeon Je-wook and Ok Do-kyung (reinstated), were also included in the pardon list.

Among current government officials, Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, who was sentenced to a 3 million won fine with a suspended sentence for violating the Military Secrets Protection Act, had his sentence nullified.

Former lawmakers Kim Sung-tae of the Liberty Korea Party, Choi Gu-sik and Lee Byung-seok of the Saenuri Party, Lee Wan-young of the Liberty Korea Party, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Jeon Byung-heon, and former Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Gye-ryun will also be pardoned. Former Gwangju Mayor Kang Woon-tae and former Hwasun County Governor Hong Yi-sik are also included.

The government reinstated 1,274 individuals involved in the 18th and 19th presidential elections, the 20th National Assembly election, and the 6th and 7th local elections, including former Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Kwon Seok-chang and former Future United Party lawmaker Lee Gyu-taek. This took into account that they had already faced restrictions on running for office more than once.

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon Photo by Yonhap News

Additionally, eight special consideration prisoners, including one pregnant inmate, four livelihood-related theft offenders, and three seriously ill patients, were pardoned.

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said at a briefing, "We aimed to create an opportunity for everyone to come together to resolve conflicts and divisions in our society and to advance the development of the Republic of Korea by overcoming the past," adding, "We hope the pardon recipients will deeply reflect on the values of reconciliation and inclusion embodied in this pardon."

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