President Lee Unlikely to Grant Special Pardons for Christmas and New Year... Cites Large-Scale Pardons in August

Office of the President: "Exclusive Presidential Authority... Difficult to Confirm Whether Pardons Will Be Granted or the Schedule"

President Lee Jaemyung is not expected to grant special pardons for Christmas or the New Year.

Yonhap News Agency

According to the ruling party on December 22, the government is reportedly not proceeding with the preparatory procedures for special pardons for Christmas and the New Year. In response, the Office of the President stated, "Pardons are an exclusive constitutional authority of the President," and added, "It is difficult to confirm the schedule, scope, or even whether pardons will be granted."

The special pardon process involves the Ministry of Justice reviewing the candidates and criteria, convening a pardon review committee to assess the candidates, and then having the President make a final decision after the Minister of Justice compiles the list and it is deliberated and approved by the Cabinet.

Although it typically takes about a month from the Ministry of Justice's review to the final decision, it has been reported that neither the Office of the President nor the Ministry of Justice is currently carrying out the relevant procedures. Therefore, the likelihood of special pardons being granted is considered low.

Previously, just two months after his inauguration, President Lee granted Liberation Day special pardons to over 830,000 people, including Cho Kuk, leader of the Innovation Party. Since a large-scale pardon was announced early in his term, it is interpreted that there is little perceived need for additional pardons.

However, the government may expand parole for inmates with a low risk of reoffending, considering issues such as overcrowding in correctional facilities. The Ministry of Justice has recently convened a parole review committee. President Lee also stated during a Ministry of Justice work briefing on December 19, "My directive is to increase parole if there is no risk of reoffending and no conflict with victims that would cause social problems."