Jinbok Lee, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, Visits MB... Presidential Office: "A Common Practice"

Former President Lee Myung-bak's Birthday... Likely to Be Released in Year-End Pardon

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Lee Jin-bok, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, met former President Lee Myung-bak on the 19th. The former president is likely to be released in a year-end pardon.

According to the Presidential Office, Lee visited Seoul National University Hospital, where the former president is hospitalized, to congratulate him on his birthday and wish for his recovery. A Presidential Office official told reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office, "This was a routine duty of the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs," adding, "It has been a tradition for past administrations to celebrate the birthdays of former presidents." It is also reported that Lee conveyed President Yoon's message expressing concern for the former president's health and wishing him a speedy recovery.

Currently, the former president is expected to be released through a year-end pardon. He was granted a suspension of sentence execution in June and is currently released, with the suspension set to expire on the 28th. The former president has not applied for an extension of the suspension of sentence execution.