President Yoon Approves 'Kim Kyung-soo Pardon' in Liberation Day Amnesty
Includes Former Park Administration Figures Jo Yoon-sun, Hyun Ki-hwan, and Ahn Jong-beom
Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who was sentenced to prison in the ‘Druking Comment Manipulation Case’ and subsequently released, and former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Yoon-sun, who completed her sentence in the ‘Cultural Blacklist’ case, will be granted special pardons and reinstatements in honor of the August 15 Liberation Day.
Also included are former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hyun Ki-hwan, who served time for the ‘White List’ case in which the Blue House under the Park Geun-hye administration illegally supported conservative groups, former Blue House Policy Chief Ahn Jong-beom, who was involved in the ‘State Affairs Manipulation Case,’ and former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon from the Lee Myung-bak administration.
On the 13th, Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae held a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul and announced, “We are carrying out special pardons for 1,219 people, including small and medium-sized business owners, small merchants, youth, drivers, special consideration prisoners, businesspeople, former high-ranking public officials, and politicians.” This marks the fifth special pardon under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
With the reinstatement on this day, former Governor Kim regained his eligibility to run for office, enabling a political comeback. He can run in the 2026 local elections and the 2027 presidential election. Additionally, pardons were granted to a total of 55 former high-ranking public officials. Former Director Won received exemption from the remainder of his sentence and reinstatement, while 11 others, including former Minister Cho, former Police Chiefs Kang Shin-myung and Lee Cheol-sung, were granted sentence expiration and reinstatement. Twenty-eight individuals, including former Governor Kim, former Senior Secretary Ahn, former Police Chief Cho Hyun-oh, former Senior Secretary Hyun Ki-hwan, former Assemblyman Won Yoo-chul, former Assemblyman Eom Yong-su, and former Daejeon Mayor Kwon Sun-taek, were reinstated.
Among businesspeople, former EcoPro Group CEO Lee Dong-chae was exempted from the remainder of his sentence, and 15 others, including Chung Woon-ju, Vice Chairman of Joongheung Group, former InterM CEO Cho Soon-gu, and former Osstem Implant Chairman Choi Kyu-ok, were reinstated.
Minister Park stated, “Although they were punished for mistakes made during state affairs, we aimed to provide an opportunity for unity and harmony by pardoning key public officials who devoted themselves to the nation and society over a long period, as well as politicians from both ruling and opposition parties.” Song Kang, Director of the Ministry of Justice’s Prosecution Bureau, explained, “The pardon was carried out with the basic intention of resolving political conflicts, fostering national unity, and creating an opportunity for the country’s development. For businesspeople, factors such as prior criminal records, damage recovery, sentence execution, and payment of fines and penalties were considered.”
Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae is expressing his position on the re-request right (veto power) decision regarding the 'Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor Act' at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 9th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
Meanwhile, the general criminal offenders granted special pardons this time number 1,138 (including one under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defense). Among the prisoners and parolees, 243 are general criminal offenders mainly involved in property crimes, excluding crimes such as murder, robbery, organized violence, sexual violence, and bribery. Of these, 188 who served more than two-thirds of their sentence were exempted from the remainder of their sentence, and 55 who served between half and two-thirds had half of their remaining sentence reduced.
Among those with suspended sentences or deferred sentences, 895 were offenders of livelihood-related administrative regulations such as violations of the Road Traffic Act and Road Act, as well as violations of the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling and the Dishonest Check Act. Among prisoners and parolees, 20 small and medium-sized business operators or small-scale self-employed individuals were included as pardon recipients, considering their criminal records and normal relations, along with 270 drivers. Additionally, 111 youths, along with 11 special consideration prisoners such as the elderly, severely disabled, and national merit recipients, were granted exemption from the remainder of their sentences, reinstatement, and sentence reductions. Other special administrative reliefs include nine passenger and freight transport workers, 404 livelihood fishermen, and 416,847 driver’s license holders.
Minister Park emphasized, “This pardon focuses primarily on revitalizing the livelihood economy and creating opportunities for national unity and harmony. We hope it will enhance economic dynamism, support the stabilization of people’s lives, overcome social conflicts, and provide a chance for national integration.”
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