Foreign Media Also Report on Park Geun-hye's Pardon... The Guardian Says "It Could Influence the Presidential Election"

On the 24th, when the special pardon decision for former President Park Geun-hye was announced, a banner wishing for her speedy recovery was hung in front of Samsung Seoul Hospital in Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where former President Park is hospitalized. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] On the 24th, major foreign media outlets simultaneously reported on the background and prospects of the special pardon granted to former President Park Geun-hye.

U.S. CNN stated, "Former President Park, daughter of dictator Park Chung-hee, became South Korea's first female president in 2013, but her term was marred by controversy." CNN also quoted Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye, who said that Park's pardon would be an opportunity for Koreans to overcome the national crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and move toward the future.

The New York Times pointed out that the government suddenly announced the pardon of Park, whose pardon was a politically contentious issue in Korean society. The outlet explained, "Whether to pardon former President Park was a hot topic causing political division ahead of the presidential election in March next year," and "The Blue House maintained an ambiguous stance until just before when asked by reporters about the prospects of Park's release."

The British Guardian viewed the special pardon of former President Park as a variable that could affect South Korea's presidential election next year. The Guardian highlighted, "The ousted former President Park was pardoned by her successor, President Moon Jae-in," and "The special pardon could influence voters in the presidential election just three months away."

Al Jazeera reported, "Many supporters and affiliated politicians of the People Power Party demanded Park's pardon ahead of the election," and "Recent opinion polls show a close race between Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party's candidate." The outlet explained the process leading from Park's punishment to her pardon and reinstatement, pointing out that Park and her friend Choi Soon-sil (formerly Choi Soon-sil) received bribes from conglomerates, exposing South Korea's covert collusion between politics and business.