Kim Jong-in on 'Park Geun-hye Pardon Theory': "I Will Apologize Regarding the Presidential Impeachment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Amid discussions within the opposition about pardoning former President Park Geun-hye, Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the United Future Party, is reported to have expressed his intention to apologize for the impeachment of the former president.

According to a United Future Party official on the 12th, Chairman Kim privately indicated his view that "an apology should be made for the impeachment of the former president."

On the 11th, Chairman Kim received a report on the 'General Election White Paper' which analyzed the causes of the election defeat. The white paper cited the party's insufficient stance on former President Park's impeachment as one of the reasons for the defeat.

Accordingly, attention is focused on whether Chairman Kim will publicly apologize to the nation for the impeachment soon. However, a United Future Party official stated, "It will not be in the form of 'kneeling down' as reported by some media."

Meanwhile, within the United Future Party, there is also talk of a pardon for former President Park ahead of Liberation Day. Park Dae-chul, a United Future Party lawmaker, wrote on Facebook, "I request a special pardon for former President Park on Liberation Day," adding, "By this year's Liberation Day, former President Park will have served 1,234 days in prison. It is an excessively harsh number."

Independent lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, formerly of the United Future Party, also requested a special pardon, stating, "The punishment endured by former President Park was politically and humanely extremely severe. She has already been imprisoned for the longest period among former presidents, continuing her incarceration into the 40th month."