Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, sentenced to 20 years in prison for a resounding corruption scandal that precipitated her impeachment in 2017, has been pardoned, the Minister of Justice announced on Friday (December 24th). justice. Park Geun-hye is on a list of people granted special amnesty and has been pardoned in “A perspective of national unity”Minister Park Beom-kye told reporters.
The amnesty will take effect on December 31, the ministry said. 69 years old, Mme Park was serving a 20-year prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power, followed by two more years for violating electoral law.
“We must overcome the pain of the past and move forward into the new era”, explained President Moon Jae-in, who rose to power in the wake of impeachment in 2017. “Given the many challenges we face, national unity and humble inclusion are more urgent than anything. “
Mr. Moon also explained that Mr.me Park after five years in prison had partly motivated his decision. The former president has been hospitalized several times this year and is currently in care in the capital.
“Deep gratitude”
“I express my deep gratitude to President Moon Jae-In and to the government authorities who decided to grant me amnesty despite many difficulties”, reacted Mme Park through an advisor, according to the Yonhap news agency.
First woman elected president of South Korea, in 2013, Mr.me Park was convicted in 2018 of receiving or requesting tens of millions of dollars from South Korean conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics, of sharing classified documents, of putting on a ” blacklist “ artists critical of his policy, or for having dismissed officials who opposed his abuse of power. This scandal had thrown a harsh light on the troubled connections between these family conglomerates and political power.
When in January, the end of Ms. Park’s trial opened up the possibility of seeking a pardon, Mr. Moon’s services replied that he was not “Not appropriate” to discuss amnesty for the time being. Condemning a former president constituted “A historical lesson”, argued the presidency.
In March, South Korean prosecutors announced the seizure of the home of the former president, who had not paid the 16 million euros fine imposed for corruption. South Korea is known for the severity of its justice against former heads of state. The four surviving former South Korean presidents were all sentenced after their terms ended.