Park Beom-gye "Special pardon for Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye not possible due to time constraints"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, stated regarding the possibility of special pardons for former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, "I have not received any indication of the President's intention," adding, "It is not possible due to time constraints."

On the 28th, Minister Park explained this to reporters on his way to the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Office, in response to the recent hospitalizations of the two former presidents and the possibility of special pardons.

Minister Park said, "One former president has a clear diagnosis, and the other is currently in a situation requiring immediate medical treatment," adding, "Special pardons are the President's authority, but so far, I have not received any indication of the President's intention." He continued, "For the August 15 special pardon to be possible, a committee must also be convened, but with the vacation season and the serious COVID-19 situation, it is not possible due to time constraints."

Regarding the petition requesting an investigation into the prosecutor who investigated Jang, a classmate of Cho Min, daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, Minister Park said, "There have been mentions in the National Assembly, so we are looking into it, but since the trial is ongoing, I am not sure how it will proceed," adding, "We plan to handle it according to previous cases." However, he added, "I cannot call it an investigation. Since the trial is ongoing, there are various considerations," and "We plan to handle it very normally and routinely, following standard procedures without anything special."

Regarding Kim Jung-wook, President of the Seoul Bar Association, who commented on legal platforms such as LawTalk, saying they "mislead the public for profit maximization," Minister Park said, "They have their own position."