[Independence Day Pardon] Justice Party: "Pardoning Chaebol Heads Undermines 'Equality Before the Law' Principle... Revoke the Pardon"

"Citizens Never Expected a Country Like This"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Justice Party criticized on the 12th the inclusion of chaebol heads in President Yoon Suk-yeol's August 15 Liberation Day special pardon, calling it "rule of law that is lenient only to the strong is an insult to the constitution and citizens."

Lee Eun-ju, the emergency committee chairperson, released a statement saying, "The Moon Jae-in administration paved a flowery path of parole for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and now the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has even given him a palanquin of reinstatement through restoration of rights."

She pointed out, "Vice Chairman Lee is currently indicted and undergoing a separate trial for the Samsung C&T accounting fraud case, which was one of the starting points of the state affairs manipulation scandal," adding, "State affairs manipulation and accounting fraud for succession of management rights are acts that undermine the market economy."

She continued, "The government’s pardon this time is an act that destroys the foundation of a fair market economy by itself," and said, "Citizens never expected such a country."

On the same day, spokesperson Lee Dong-young also raised his voice of criticism in a briefing, saying, "If everything is going to be pardoned eventually, then what is the point of trials?" and "Judicial justice has collapsed again in front of money."

Spokesperson Lee said, "Chaebol heads have already received preferential treatment that violates judicial justice through parole and suspended sentences, and have even nullified employment and management participation restrictions for five years under the Special Act, effectively intervening in management," adding, "Nevertheless, chaebol heads persistently filed complaints asking to completely remove the 'judicial stigma' because it was inconvenient and bothersome, and in the end, President Yoon has taken it upon himself to be the problem solver for the chaebol heads’ complaints."

He demanded the withdrawal of the pardon, saying, "The pardon of chaebol heads that undermines the principle of 'equality before the law' is unacceptable." He further suggested, "The power of pardon is the president’s inherent authority but is a power delegated by the people, and it should be exercised with restraint at the very least so as not to violate judicial justice and the rule of law."