Cho Kuk, Yoon Mihyang, and Choi Kangwook Pardoned and Reinstated...
Lee Hwayoung, Former Gyeonggi Vice Governor for Peace, Excluded
Hong Moonjong, Chung Chanmin, and Shim Hakbong Included in Special Pardon List at People Power Party's Request
Presidential Office: "Far More Opposition Politicians Included Than Ruling Party"
Sixteen Business Figures, Including Choi Jisung, Former Head of Samsung's Future Strategy Office
President Lee Shows Interest in Credit Amnesty for 3.64 Million...
Orders Ministries to Collect Livelihood-Related Pardon Cases
On August 11, President Lee Jaemyung granted pardons and reinstatements to politicians including former Innovation Party leader Cho Kuk, as well as former lawmakers Yoon Mihyang and Choi Kangwook. This marks the first special pardon of the Lee administration, and with this reinstatement, Cho Kuk is now able to resume his political activities. Former lawmakers Hong Moonjong, Chung Chanmin, and Shim Hakbong?who had been requested for special pardon by Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party?were also included in the list of pardoned individuals.
That afternoon, President Lee convened an ad hoc cabinet meeting focused solely on the Liberation Day special pardon. The government approved a proposal to grant special pardons, effective August 15, to a total of 836,687 people, including 27 politicians and key public officials, 16 businesspeople, and 184 union members, street vendors, and farmers. Spokesperson Kang Yujeong stated during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan, "President Lee expressed his agreement with the Ministry of Justice's pardon proposal, which aims to meet the demands of national unity and revitalize the economy." She emphasized that the core principle of this Liberation Day special pardon is to lower social tensions heightened by illegal emergency martial law and to restore livelihoods by reviving the stagnant economy.
Spokesperson Kang further explained, "President Lee listened to opinions from all walks of life and deliberated carefully. As a result, this pardon and reinstatement was broadly extended to 2,188 individuals, including small business owners, young people, drivers, as well as businesspeople, politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties, labor representatives, and farmers."
The list of those pardoned and reinstated includes former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyungshim, wife of Cho Kuk, as well as former Democratic Party lawmakers Choi Kangwook and Yoon Mihyang, former Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent Cho Heeyeon, and former Vice Minister of Justice Lee Yonggu?figures generally considered to be from the ruling bloc. Others named include Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Kunyoung, who is classified as "pro-Moon," former Blue House civil affairs secretary Baek Wonwoo, former Seongnam mayor Eun Soomi, former Environment Minister Kim Eunkyung, and former Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyungpyo.
Former Justice Minister and former leader of the Innovation Party, Cho Kuk, who was sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court on charges including "admission bribery for children" and "cover-up of Blue House inspection," is leaving the conference room after a press briefing held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
On the opposition side, former lawmakers Hong Moonjong, Chung Chanmin, and Shim Hakbong were also pardoned and reinstated. These individuals had been mentioned in a petition text delivered by Song Eonseok, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, to Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik. Lee Hwayoung, former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace and classified as "pro-Lee Jaemyung," was excluded from the pardon list. Lee Hwayoung is currently serving a sentence of seven years and eight months for the North Korea remittance case.
Spokesperson Kang stated, "The decision to pardon politicians was made after comprehensively considering the opinions of religious groups, civic organizations, and both ruling and opposition parties. We hope this measure will serve as an opportunity to restore politics through dialogue and reconciliation." When asked about the significance of excluding Lee Hwayoung, who is classified as pro-Lee Jaemyung, from the pardon list, Kang replied, "There is no one among those pardoned who could be considered a close aide to the president. In fact, there are far more opposition politicians included, which demonstrates that this pardon is intended to promote social cohesion and grand reconciliation."
Former Samsung Electronics executives who were convicted on charges including bribery in connection with the "Choi Soon-sil state affairs manipulation scandal" were also included in large numbers in this round of pardons. Choi Shinwon, former chairman of SK Networks, was pardoned and reinstated, while Choi Jisung, former head of Samsung Electronics' Future Strategy Office (Vice Chairman); Jang Choonggi, former deputy head of the same office (President); Park Sangjin, former president in charge of external relations; and Hwang Seongsu, former executive vice president in charge of external relations, were reinstated. Hyun Jaehyun, former chairman of Tongyang Group, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for concealing the possibility of default and issuing short-term corporate papers (CP) and corporate bonds from affiliates to the detriment of general investors, as well as Park Inkyu, former president of Daegu Bank, were also reinstated.
Meanwhile, spokesperson Kang reported that President Lee scrutinized the issue of credit amnesty, which, although not subject to cabinet deliberation, affects as many as 3.64 million people. President Lee was briefed by the Financial Services Commission that 88% of small-amount delinquent borrowers with overdue amounts under 50 million won had repaid their debts within one year, yet their delinquency records remained in the financial sector for five years, resulting in disadvantages regarding card issuance and loan amounts. President Lee remarked, "These individuals should be praised, not penalized for past delinquency; treating them as if they have a criminal record is no different," and instructed that measures be taken to ensure their daily lives are not adversely affected.
President Lee also noted that there are too many administrative sanctions imposed by each ministry. In response to a suggestion by Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oeul to identify additional cases of livelihood-related pardons by ministry, President Lee instructed, "Please gather examples of livelihood-related pardons by ministry so that we can consider a Christmas pardon at the end of the year."
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