[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the scale of political pardons is expected to be significantly reduced for the August 15 Liberation Day special pardon, voices requesting pardons for former President Lee Myung-bak and former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo are emerging even within the ruling party.
First-term Kim Byung-wook, a member of the People Power Party, requested a pardon for the former president on Facebook on the 11th, saying, "A country where a former president is imprisoned is not a good country."
He said, "I appeal for the pardon of the former president for the restoration of national dignity. Also, I request the pardon of former Governor Kim for national unity," adding, "As President Yoon Seok-yeol stated shortly after his inauguration, imprisoning a former president over eighty years old for more than 20 years is excessive compared to past cases and is not right when considering the country's dignity."
Kim mentioned the anecdote of President Ford pardoning his predecessor, President Nixon, saying, "I expect a great decision from the president."
People Power Party lawmaker Cho Hae-jin also demanded the president's decision on the same day on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' saying, "(Pardons) are decisions made when deemed necessary for the country on a large scale, but seeing the focus on public opinion is regrettable."
Cho pointed out, "There were reports initially that the pardon for former President MB was confirmed, but seeing the presidential office explain the cancellation of the pardon as 'because public opinion is unfavorable' made me think this is not right," adding, "Among those currently mentioned as pardon candidates, only Chairman Lee Jae-yong has over 50% approval, while the others do not reach 50%."
Earlier, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo also wrote on his Facebook, "Seeing the abandonment of the August 15 grand pardon because approval ratings are at rock bottom, I cannot help but think that this is a very passive and complacent way to overcome the political situation," and questioned, "Isn't the president's implicit promise to the people more important than approval ratings?"
Mayor Hong advised, "(Both former President Lee and former Governor Kim) should be granted a grand pardon and move toward greater national unity. That is politics."
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