Park Jumin: "MB Pardon Should Be Done by Yoon, Not Moon"

"Handonghun, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District? ... That Should Not Happen"

Park Jumin, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Wooseok] On the 16th, Park Jumin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed opposition to the news that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol is expected to recommend a pardon for former President Lee Myung-bak (MB) to President Moon Jae-in, saying, "From the president-elect's standpoint, if he judges after taking office that it is right and helps national unity, it is a matter that the president-elect can also do."

Park appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that day and said regarding the MB pardon, "When Park Geun-hye was pardoned recently, it was reported that 'the MB pardon was also reviewed.' As a result, it was judged that 'considering the situation, timing, and public sentiment, it was not appropriate.' It does not seem appropriate to overturn that judgment now just because the president-elect requests it," he said.

He said, "If the president-elect requests (the MB pardon), it is not easy for the (president) to refuse," but added, "Considering the short time left until (President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's) inauguration and if it aligns with the new government's philosophy and vision, it is also a fully possible matter to do it after inauguration."

Regarding rumors that the MB pardon will be carried out simultaneously with the pardon of former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, he said, "Regarding the MB pardon, as I mentioned earlier, I have a negative stance, so going beyond that and doing it together with Governor Kim Kyung-soo does not seem appropriate yet."

On the speculation about the appointment of Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he said, "The president-elect has already shown such intentions in media interviews. Therefore, it seems possible to become a reality, but it should not happen."

He continued, "Even the court recognized that the relationship between Prosecutor Han and President-elect Yoon, which is currently being discussed, is a special relationship during the disciplinary lawsuit against Yoon when he was Prosecutor General," adding, "As you know, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigates many cases related to President-elect Yoon. If that happens, a special relation person would be investigating his own cases, which inevitably raises doubts about the legitimacy and fairness of the investigation. That would undermine the neutrality and independence of the prosecution that Prosecutor General Yoon has continuously advocated for and would be an opportunity to politicize the prosecution," he criticized.