Choi Seo-won's Lawyer Releases Handwritten Letter
"I Will Not Repeat a Dark Life"
Choi Seo-won (67, formerly Choi Soon-sil), who is serving a sentence for the 'state affairs manipulation' scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration, has requested a pardon from President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 22nd, Choi's legal representative, lawyer Lee Kyung-jae, held a press conference at the Northeast Asia Law Firm office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and revealed a pardon request letter written by Choi herself.
In a letter titled "While Writing the Pardon Request Letter," Choi opened by saying, "In a situation where no one steps forward regarding my pardon, I thought writing (the pardon request letter) myself was the only way."
Choi Seo-won, currently serving a sentence for the "state affairs manipulation" case. [Image source=Yonhap News]
She continued, "Still, on the progressive side, they have continuously demanded the release of Jung Kyung-shim (wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk), who was eventually released on parole last time," adding, "However, even those who reach out to me find the topic of pardon and reinstatement awkward and find it difficult to step forward."
She stated, "I was implicated as a co-perpetrator with former President Park Geun-hye as a mere figurehead behind the scenes and lost everything," and added, "While all the state affairs manipulators and former Blue House secretaries have been pardoned and reinstated, the punishment is too harsh for me, who remains an ordinary citizen. If I am not pardoned this time, the current government will not grant my pardon and reinstatement."
Choi also said, "If I am pardoned and reinstated, I will live a life where I, my daughter, and my three grandchildren can live with their shoulders held high in the future," and added, "I will never repeat a dark life overshadowed by someone else's shadow."
A pardon request letter in the form of a letter personally written by Choi Seo-won. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Lawyer Lee appealed, "Choi has been serving her sentence for eight years and lost all her assets, including buildings in Gangnam, due to fines and confiscations," adding, "As a result, Choi's only family, Jung Yoo-ra, and her children are in a situation where it is difficult to make a living."
He emphasized that Choi's health is deteriorating day by day, having undergone two back surgeries, saying, "A woman in her late 60s is in a state where it is difficult to continue surviving."
He also argued, "Except for Choi, all those who were tried and sentenced for the state affairs manipulation scandal are living freely after completing their sentences or receiving pardons," and added, "The current enforcement of Choi's sentence has lost fairness when viewed from the standards of reason and common sense."
Meanwhile, Choi, who was detained in November 2016, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a fine of 20 billion won, and a confiscation of 6.3 billion won in June 2020 for charges including abuse of power and bribery, and is serving her sentence at Cheongju Women's Prison.
Choi was temporarily released last December for spinal surgery and was re-incarcerated in May. Her sentence is known to expire in October 2037.
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