17-Year Prison Sentence Confirmed, 4.9 Years Served
Transferred to Nonhyeon-dong Residence After Discharge from Seoul National University Hospital
[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Former President Lee Myung-bak, who was pardoned and reinstated by President Yoon Seok-yeol's New Year's special pardon, will be discharged on the 30th. According to Lee's side on the 29th, he is scheduled to be discharged from Seoul National University Hospital on the 30th and then head to his residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
After arriving at his private residence, the former president is expected to deliver a direct message to the public. Lee was imprisoned for 4 years and 9 months starting from March 2018 on charges including bribery and embezzlement, and has been hospitalized at Seoul National University Hospital since June this year under a suspension of sentence execution due to health reasons.
Lee was pardoned and reinstated at midnight on the 28th through President Yoon's New Year's special pardon, and it is reported that he received the pardon certificate at the hospital from the prosecution.
With this pardon, Lee was exempted from the remaining 14 years of his sentence and a fine of 8.2 billion KRW.
Previously, Lee was confirmed to a 17-year prison sentence by the Supreme Court in October 2020 on charges including embezzling 25.2 billion KRW while being the actual owner of the auto parts company DAS and having Samsung pay 8.9 billion KRW in litigation costs on his behalf.
Attention is focused on whether the former president will issue a message after his discharge. Former President Park Geun-hye, after being pardoned and reinstated, was discharged from Samsung Seoul Hospital in March and briefly greeted the press with a short message to the public before arriving at her private residence in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, where she personally delivered a message reflecting on her time.
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