[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] With about 10 days left in his term, President Moon Jae-in stated on the 29th regarding the pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak, “There are many opinions in favor of the pardon for national harmony and unity.” This is interpreted as expressing a positive stance.
In response to a Blue House petition opposing the pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak, President Moon said, “There are many citizens who share the same opinion as the petitioner.”
He added, “I will carefully consider judicial justice and public consensus before making a decision.” The petition opposing the pardon of the former president, submitted on March 15, received 355,501 signatures.
President Moon showed sympathy for the petitioner’s intent. He said, “The petitioner cited the need for strict punishment without leniency for political corruption crimes and the fact that there is still no sign of remorse,” and added, “Many citizens share the same opinion as the petitioner. (However) at this point, I can only respond in principle.”
President Moon’s recent remarks are being analyzed as effectively leaving open the possibility of a pardon, since he mentioned that “there are many opinions in favor” in response to the petition opposing the pardon.
President Moon Jae-in expressed a positive stance on the pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak, saying, “There are many opinions in favor of the pardon for national harmony and unity.”
On the 29th, in response to a Blue House petition opposing the pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak, President Moon said, “I will carefully consider judicial justice and public consensus before making a decision.” The petition opposing the pardon, submitted on March 15, received 355,501 signatures.
However, President Moon also showed sympathy for the petitioner’s intent. He said, “The petitioner cited the need for strict punishment without leniency for political corruption crimes and the fact that there is still no sign of remorse,” and added, “Many citizens share the same opinion as the petitioner. (However) at this point, I can only respond in principle.”
Recently, the Blue House has received demands to pardon politicians such as former President Lee, former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, former lawmaker Lee Seok-ki, as well as business figures like Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk’s wife, former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim.
Accordingly, there is speculation that President Moon may simultaneously pardon former President Lee and former Governor Kim around Buddha’s Birthday on the 8th of next month.
President Moon reaffirmed his negative stance on relocating the presidential office.
Regarding the petition opposing the relocation of the presidential office, President Moon said, “Personally, I sympathize with the content of the petition,” and questioned, “Is it really necessary to spend a lot of money to move to a place other than Gwanghwamun? Even if we move, is the Ministry of National Defense building the most appropriate location? Is it right to proceed by relocating the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Foreign Minister’s official residence in succession during a time when national security is becoming more severe?”
He added, “If the next government insists on it, the outgoing government cannot cause further confusion.”
However, President Moon said, “We are putting great effort into ensuring that no security or protection gaps occur during the office relocation process, and we ask for understanding of the government’s position that this cannot be avoided.”
President Moon evaluated, “There was a time when the Blue House was called an old palace, but overall, it has been a history of continuous expansion of openness and becoming an open Blue House. During our administration, the road in front of the Blue House was opened, Inwangsan and Bugaksan mountains were fully opened, and many citizens visited the Blue House grounds.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
