'Gwangbokjeol Special Pardon' Clemency Review Committee Concludes... What Is the Scale of the 'Businessman Pardon'?

President Yoon Suk-yeol [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Ministry of Justice's Pardon Review Committee, convened on the 9th for the first special pardon since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, concluded after five hours.

With President Yoon's approval ratings recently declining, it is widely expected that, considering political burdens, the pardon and reinstatement candidates will be confirmed focusing on business figures such as Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, rather than politicians like former President Lee Myung-bak and former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo.

The Pardon Review Committee met from around 11 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. at the Ministry of Justice's Government Gwacheon Complex, 7th floor conference room. Most external members refrained from commenting to the press after the meeting, saying "It is difficult to disclose," but some members responded that "the number of candidates was smaller than expected."

The committee reviewing candidates for the August 15 Liberation Day special pardon consisted of nine members: four internal officials from the Ministry of Justice and prosecution, including Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and Vice Minister Lee Nogong, and five external members. However, Minister Han did not participate in the review process in accordance with usual precedent.

Minister Han will report the results of the special pardon candidates selected by the committee to President Yoon Seok-yeol. Once President Yoon approves, the final candidates will be confirmed after a Cabinet meeting resolution. The announcement is expected on the 12th.

Earlier, Minister Han arrived at the complex around 11:44 a.m. and told reporters, "Pardons are the president's exclusive authority," stating he would not participate in the meeting. He also said, "I believe the Pardon Review Committee will make a sound judgment." External members also refrained from answering questions about the review criteria and pardon candidates, saying "We do not know."

This special pardon is reported to likely include a large number of businesspeople to overcome the economic crisis. Representative figures mentioned include Vice Chairman Lee, Chairman Shin, Kumho Petrochemical Chairman Park Chan-gu, and Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Jung-geun.

Among politicians, there was speculation about pardons for former President Lee and former Governor Kim, but many are expected to be excluded from the pardon list due to the government's political burden.