Park, jailed for corruption, is pardoned

SEOUL－President Moon Jaein granted pardon to former president Park Geun-hye, who was in prison after being convicted of corruption, said the Justice Ministry on Friday, amid a tight presidential race.

Park, 69, became South Korea's first democratically elected leader to be thrown out of office when the Constitutional Court upheld a parliament vote in 2017 to impeach her over a scandal that also landed the heads of two conglomerates, including Samsung, in jail.

She was brought down after being found guilty of colluding with a close friend to receive tens of billions of won from major conglomerates, mostly to fund her friend's family and nonprofit foundations.

In January, the top court upheld a 20-year prison sentence for Park on graft charges that finalized her downfall, bringing an end to the legal process.

Park will be released on Dec 31 from a hospital in Seoul. Her lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha said Park had offered an apology for causing concern to the public and thanked Moon for making a difficult decision.

Moon's office said pardoning Park was intended to "overcome unfortunate past history, promote people's unity and join hands for the future".

"I hope this would provide a chance to go beyond differences in thoughts and pros and cons, and open a new era of integration and unity," Moon's spokeswoman quoted him as saying.

However, Lee Myung-bak, Park's conservative predecessor who is also imprisoned on corruption charges, was not pardoned.

Moon had previously pledged not to pardon those who were convicted of corruption. But many supporters and politicians of the main opposition People Power Party have called for Park's pardon ahead of the March presidential election, citing her deteriorating health and deepening political strife.

Health problems

Opposition lawmakers said Park has experienced health problems while in prison, including undergoing shoulder surgery.

Park's imprisonment had become a political hot potato that divided the country, with conservatives having weekly rallies in downtown Seoul urging her release and criticizing Moon until the COVID-19 pandemic emerged.

A Gallup Korea poll in November showed that 48 percent of respondents were opposed to pardoning Park and Lee, but the numbers have dropped from around 60 percent earlier this year.

Kim Mi-jeong, 42, a resident of the southern city Gwangyang, said Park's pardon was timely. But Jang Yun-soo, from Hwaseong on South Korea's west coast, said her release was politically motivated.

Moon's ruling Democratic Party flag bearer Lee Jae-myung and People Power's candidate Yoon Sukyeol have been seen neck and neck in recent polls.

Lee said he understood Moon's "agony" and respected his decision for national unity, but Park should offer a sincere apology for the scandal.

Yoon said Park's pardon was welcome albeit late, but did not elaborate his response to reporters' questions on her potential resumption of political activity.

Agencies - Xinhua