[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been reported that Nam Jae-joon and Lee Byung-gi, former National Intelligence Service (NIS) directors who were convicted by the Supreme Court for providing special activity funds to the Blue House during the Park Geun-hye administration, have been included among the candidates for parole this month.
According to the legal community on the 22nd, the Ministry of Justice held a parole review committee meeting on the 20th and decided on the first parolees under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, effective from the 30th of this month. The number is approximately 650 people.
Among them, former directors Nam Jae-joon and Lee Byung-gi were included, while former director Lee Byung-ho was excluded from parole consideration due to having a significant portion of his sentence remaining. Under criminal law, those sentenced to imprisonment with labor can be eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentence. However, typically, they must meet 50 to 90% of the sentence served to be considered for preliminary parole review.
The three former NIS directors were prosecuted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (loss to the national treasury, etc.) and had their prison sentences confirmed by the Supreme Court in July last year. Former director Nam Jae-joon was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for providing 600 million won in special activity funds to former President Park Geun-hye during his tenure. Lee Byung-gi, who handed over 800 million won, was sentenced to 3 years, and Lee Byung-ho, who gave 2.1 billion won, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months with a 2-year disqualification.
Meanwhile, Lee Heon-su, former NIS Planning and Coordination Office chief, who was indicted for conspiring with them to deliver money to the Blue House and sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, is also reportedly included among those eligible for pardon.
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