'형집행정지' Lee Myung-bak discharged from Seoul National University Hospital... "Outpatient treatment at home"

Former President Lee Myung-bak [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former President Lee Myung-bak (81), who was released on suspension of sentence execution, completed treatment for his chronic illness and was discharged from Seoul National University Hospital on the 30th.

On the day, Lee’s legal representative, lawyer Kang Hoon, said, "The President has been discharged and returned home to his residence in Nonhyeon-dong," adding, "After doctors gathered and discussed, they judged that outpatient treatment was possible and issued the discharge order."

Former President Lee was sentenced to 17 years in prison for charges including embezzlement and bribery, and after serving 1 year and 7 months, he was temporarily released on the 28th through suspension of sentence execution.

The Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office held a suspension of sentence execution review committee and accepted Lee’s application for suspension. The committee reportedly concluded, "Considering the former President’s health condition, there is a concern that executing the sentence would significantly harm his health." Lee’s side had submitted the suspension application in March due to health reasons.

Under our Criminal Procedure Act, there are seven conditions for suspension of imprisonment execution, including when there is a concern that the execution of the sentence would significantly harm health or threaten life, when the person is aged 70 or older, when pregnant for more than six months, or when there is no one to protect elderly direct ascendants or minor direct descendants.

The legal community expects that this suspension of sentence execution will ignite calls for a special pardon ahead of Liberation Day on August 15. The main reason is that Lee had repeatedly been hospitalized and discharged due to diabetes and bronchitis. In December 2020, while imprisoned at Seoul Eastern Detention Center, he applied for suspension of sentence execution citing concerns over COVID-19 infection but was denied. Unlike former President Park Geun-hye, Lee was excluded from the New Year special pardon list.

On the 9th, President Yoon Suk-yeol, while arriving at the Yongsan Presidential Office, asked about Lee, "Is it appropriate for him to serve 20 years in prison?" and said, "The decision on pardon will be made based on precedent," which also adds momentum to the special pardon discussion.

Former President Lee was arrested in March 2018 during a prosecution investigation on charges including embezzlement and bribery, and was released on bail in March 2019. Afterwards, he stood trial while out on bail but was re-arrested in February 2020 following a 17-year prison sentence in the second trial. However, he appealed the bail cancellation decision and was released again after six days. In October 2020, the Supreme Court confirmed the 17-year prison sentence and a fine of 13 billion KRW. On November 2 of the same year, he was imprisoned at Seoul Eastern Detention Center and was transferred to Anyang Prison after a COVID-19 outbreak in the correctional facility.