MB, Who Almost Faced Imprisonment Until Age 95, Says "Truth Cannot Be Imprisoned"

After 17-Year Final Sentence, Reimprisoned in 2020, Message via Lawyer
Amnesty and Reinstatement at Midnight on 28th... Ministry of Justice: "Restoring the Strength of a United Republic of Korea"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "They may imprison me, but they cannot imprison the truth."

This was the statement made by former President Lee Myung-bak through his legal representative, lawyer Kang Hoon, ahead of his re-incarceration at Seoul Eastern Detention Center on November 2, 2020. At that time, former President Lee was re-incarcerated 251 days after being released on February 2020 due to a suspension of sentence execution. People including People Power Party lawmakers Jang Je-won and Kwon Seong-dong saw him off in front of his residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Former President Lee was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Supreme Court on charges including bribery and embezzlement. He was supposed to remain incarcerated until 2036, when he would turn 95 years old. However, variables such as parole and special pardons remained. At the time of his re-incarceration, the Moon Jae-in administration was in power. The new government had room for different decisions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In Yeouido's political circles, few expected former President Lee to remain imprisoned until the age of 95. The prevailing view was that, as with former presidents before him, he would be released in the form of a special pardon when the time came. After the 2022 presidential election, there was speculation that a special pardon for former presidents might occur even before the election.

Former President Park Geun-hye was released through a New Year's special pardon on December 24, 2021, during President Moon Jae-in's administration. At that time, former President Park conveyed through lawyer Yoo Young-ha, "I deeply apologize to the people for causing much concern. I also thank everyone for their unwavering support and encouragement. Despite many difficulties, I sincerely express my gratitude to President Moon Jae-in and the government authorities for deciding on the pardon."

Among the two former presidents who were incarcerated, former President Park Geun-hye was released, but former President Lee was excluded from the special pardon. Ironically, being excluded from the pardon list increased the possibility of a future pardon. The expectation was high that former President Lee would also be included in a special pardon when the time was right.

On November 2, 2020, in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, close associates of former President Lee Myung-bak, including former lawmaker Lee Eun-jae, former Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo, People Power Party lawmakers Jang Je-won and Kwon Seong-dong, and former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, were waiting to see him off in front of his residence. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

With Yoon Seok-youl, the candidate from the People Power Party, which inherited the legacy of conservative parties, winning the presidential election in March, Lee Myung-bak’s pardon was seen as a matter of time. The dominant view was that he would be included in the special pardon to be carried out by the end of 2022 at the latest. As expected, former President Lee was included in the special pardon list.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "As we conclude the first year of the new government, we included politicians such as former President Lee Myung-bak in the pardon list to create an opportunity to restore the strength of a united Republic of Korea through nationwide integration."

There was no dramatic scene of former President Lee being released from prison following the special pardon announcement. This is because he was not in prison when he heard the news of the pardon. Former President Lee was hospitalized at Seoul National University Hospital under a suspension of sentence execution. It is expected that he will be discharged depending on his health condition and then stay at his residence in Nonhyeon-dong.