Parole Review Committee Decides to Rehabilitate Kim Kyung-soo and Cho Yoon-sun in 'Gwangbokjeol Special Pardon'

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo is reported to be included in the August 15 Liberation Day restoration of rights.

According to political and legal circles on the 8th, the Ministry of Justice held a pardon review committee meeting at the Government Gwacheon Complex on the same day to review candidates for special pardons and restoration of rights, including former Governor Kim and former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun.

Former Governor Kim was sentenced to two years in prison for the ‘Druking comment manipulation case’ and served his sentence. He was granted a special pardon without restoration of rights in 2022, leaving his eligibility to run for office restricted until December 2027. If Kim’s restoration of rights is finalized, his eligibility to run for office will be restored, enabling him to run in the 2026 local elections and the 2027 presidential election, thus allowing a political comeback.

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo answering reporters' questions
(Yeongjongdo=Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Hwayoung = Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who is studying abroad in the United Kingdom, is answering reporters' questions after returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport on the 19th to attend the memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun. 2024.5.19
hwayoung7@yna.co.kr
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Former Secretary Cho was sentenced to one year and two months in prison in February this year for the ‘cultural blacklist’ case, in which groups and artists critical of the government during the Park Geun-hye administration were excluded. He has completed his sentence. Former Secretary Cho was excluded from the Lunar New Year special pardon list in February this year.

Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae is scheduled to report the results of the pardon review committee to President Yoon Suk-yeol, who holds the pardon authority. Following this, the final decision on special pardons and restoration of rights will be made after approval at the Cabinet meeting on the 13th. This special pardon is the fifth under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.