South Korean politicians have greeted with surprise and some reserve the announcement on Friday, December 24, of the pardon granted by President Moon Jae-in to the one who had preceded him from 2013 to 2017 as head of the country, Park. Geun-hye. The Democratic majority said “Respect” the presidential decision. The conservative opposition suspects a “Maneuver” to weaken it. All parties are wondering about its consequences in the run-up to the presidential election on March 9, 2022.
The pardon granted to the former president, who is serving a sentence of twenty-two years in prison for corruption and abuse of power, is part of the New Year’s amnesty, which concerns 3,094 people this year. Mme Park therefore benefited but not another former president, Lee Myung-bak (2008-2013), behind bars for corruption and embezzlement of public funds. The decision is not exceptional. In 1997, Chun Doo-hwan (1980-1988) and Roh Tae-woo (1988-1993), two former presidents imprisoned for corruption, mutiny or even murders, had been pardoned by the then leader, Kim Young-sam (1993-1998).
Park Geun-hye, who was the first woman to rule South Korea, reacted to her forgiveness by apologizing “To the public for the concerns raised”. She also expressed her “Deep gratitude to President Moon Jae-in and the government, who have decided to grant a pardon despite the difficulties”. Justice Minister Park Beom-kye justified Moon Jae-in’s decision by his desire to “Strengthen national unity and appease conflicts” in this period of health crisis due to Covid-19 and the approach of the presidential election.
Degradation of his state of health
The deterioration in the prisoner’s state of health was also taken into account. Hospitalized since November 22 at the Samsung medical center for orthopedic and dental problems, the former leader is also said to be suffering from psychological disorders. Since her imprisonment in 2017 in Uiwang prison, in Gyeonggi province, neighboring Seoul, she has refused all visits, except those of her lawyer. After his release, Mme Park is expected to remain hospitalized for a while.
The pardon granted is not unanimous within the presidential camp. As a student, Democrat Moon Jae-in was jailed for campaigning against the authoritarian power of Park Chung-hee, leader from 1962 to 1979 and father of Mr.me Park. Mr. Moon came to the presidency in 2017 after the ‘candle revolution’, which mobilized millions of South Koreans to get Mr.me Park and the end of the corruption network set up under his administration with the complicity of his confidante, Choi Soon-sil, the Samsung conglomerate or the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Mr. Moon then promised “A just and equitable society”.
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