Lee Jae-yong 'Parole' Public Opinion... 66.6% Support
Park Beom-gye "Special Pardon is the President's Exclusive Authority"
[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and Seulgi Yoon] It has been reported that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is on the list of candidates for parole review on August 15, Liberation Day, sparking various opinions in the political sphere. Civil society has also criticized the parole discussion itself, warning that it could be perceived as a pardon for Lee, who is serving time for the state affairs manipulation case. There are concerns that this could directly undermine the judicial order.
According to the legal community on the 26th, Seoul Detention Center recently submitted the list of candidates for Liberation Day parole to the Ministry of Justice. Lee Jae-yong is reportedly included on the list. Parole is decided by the Parole Review Committee after frontline detention centers and prisons submit the list to the Ministry of Justice, and is finalized with the approval of the Minister of Justice.
Opinions are divided in the political arena. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding the possibility of Lee being a so-called 'August parole candidate,' said on the 20th during a visit to Samsung Electronics Hwaseong Campus in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, "Those who have served two-thirds of their sentence or 60% of their sentence according to Ministry of Justice guidelines become eligible for parole," adding, "In principle, without any controversy over special treatment, Chairman Lee Jae-yong could be eligible for parole in August after completing 60% of his sentence."
However, Leader Song added, "Parole falls under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Justice, while pardons are the authority of the President at the Blue House," and said, "We are considering factors such as the semiconductor industry's demands, public sentiment, and the fact that he has served 60% of his sentence."
On the same day, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, who visited Hwaseong Campus with Leader Song, commented on Lee's parole issue, saying, "Equality before the law is a very important principle and value in a democratic country," and added, "It is not right to grant special benefits before the law just because someone is special, but on the other hand, I think there is no need to disadvantage conglomerates in systems like parole."
Governor Lee emphasized, "Whether a pardon or parole in any form is desirable, possible, or necessary is an immediate national issue, so the President must make a highly political judgment respecting the will of the people," and said, "It is not appropriate for me to speak specifically."
The government is taking a cautious stance. Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye said regarding the pardon discussions for former presidents and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee ahead of August 15 Liberation Day, "I am the chair of the pardon review committee, but I have not yet received the President's intention."
At the National Assembly Judiciary Committee plenary session on the 22nd, Minister Park said, "Special pardons are the President's exclusive authority. If a pardon is to be granted now, based on past examples, an August 15 special pardon could be possible," but added, "I think it is practically unlikely in terms of timing." He explained, "The pardon review process happens after the President decides to grant a pardon. Unless it is a one-point special pardon, there are no particular signs so far."
According to the Ministry of Justice, there has been no August 15 special pardon among the four special pardons during the current administration. The special pardons during the Moon Jae-in administration were the 2018 New Year's pardon, the 2019 March 1st Movement 100th anniversary pardon, the 2020 New Year's pardon, and the 2021 New Year's pardon. Minister Park emphasized, "The August 15 parole will proceed," adding, "The parole system is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, separate from special pardons."
While various opinions are emerging in the political sphere regarding Lee's Liberation Day parole, a public opinion poll released on the 26th showed that two out of three citizens support Lee's parole.
According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on the 23rd at the request of YTN, targeting 500 people nationwide aged 18 and over, 66.6% responded that Lee's Liberation Day parole "should be done to revitalize the economy," while 28.2% said "it should not be done due to the possibility of special treatment."
Among supporters of the People Power Party, 93.6% supported parole, with only 3.7% opposing. Among the undecided voters, 79.6% supported parole, and 17.1% opposed. Among Democratic Party supporters, opposition to parole was higher at 51.8% compared to 40.5% in favor.
On the afternoon of May 25, labor and civic group representatives held a press conference in front of the Blue House fountain, shouting slogans opposing the pardon of Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, civil society has expressed strong opposition to Lee's potential parole in August. They cited reasons such as Lee being a key figure in the state affairs manipulation case that led to former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment and currently facing another trial for serious economic crimes.
The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice stated in a commentary on the 21st, "President Moon promised the public to uphold a zero-tolerance principle for serious economic criminals and to strictly limit the exercise of pardon rights," adding, "If the rule of law is ignored and parole is granted to a serious criminal, it will inevitably face the anger and judgment of the people."
Earlier, on the 18th, 781 intellectuals including professors, researchers, and civic groups issued a declaration saying, "Special pardons and parole for Vice Chairman Lee are highly inappropriate acts that undermine the foundation of the rule of law and the era value of fairness in this country," and added, "Granting a special exemption would not only violate fairness and justice but also undermine the foundation of the rule of law."
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