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| Former presidents Park Geun-hye, left, and Lee Myung-bak / Korea Times file |
By Nam Hyun-woo
Debate is being reignited over pardoning two imprisoned former presidents and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, following increasing calls by opposition lawmakers and businesses asking President Moon Jae-in to exercise leniency and send a message of unity to a divided public.
Cheong Wa Dae and the government say they are not considering a presidential pardon at the moment, but speculation is mounting, because such a move could be an effective way for Moon and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to recover lost support.
The debate on pardoning former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye resurfaced after President Moon named former lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum as new prime minister last week.
Former President Park has been imprisoned after being found guilty of using National Intelligence Service funds for personal use and interfering in her political party's primaries, while Vice Chairman Lee was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of bribery and embezzlement.
Kim, who served as the chairman of the DPK's special committee on national unity, is widely considered a figure suitable to remedy Korea's political divide and seek unity between liberal and conservative parties. The prime minister-nominee built his liberal political career in the country's conservative strongholds such as Daegu.
During a TV appearance in January, Kim said the matter of pardoning former presidents could be discussed when public consent is accompanied by Moon's agreement and a willingness for change among political groups.
When asked about the issue during a meeting with reporters on Tuesday, the prime minister-nominee said he has "yet to grasp the full context of the current debate on presidential pardons" and will not answer questions on the subject until his confirmation hearing that will be held soon.
After Kim's nomination, conservative politicians have been calling for the exonerations of the former presidents.
Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, who contested the presidency with Moon during the previous presidential election and is now an independent lawmaker, wrote on Facebook that the President should pardon the former leaders to "manage state affairs in a reconciliatory mood."
Former conservative lawmaker Yoo Seong-min, a presidential hopeful, also said in a forum on April 8 that Moon should decide whether to release the presidents before the end of his tenure in May 2022. Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) also said on Sunday that it is a matter of national dignity and Moon should pardon the ex-presidents.
Despite calls from the opposition bloc, pundits say presidential pardons remain a tough decision. Former Prime Minister and former DPK head Lee Nak-yon was once considered the strongest presidential contender, but faced heavy protest from his own party after commenting that he may ask Moon to grant pardons for the former presidents.
"During a press conference in January, Moon has said that he thinks it is difficult to use the right [to grant pardons] unless there is a public consensus on the issue," said Park Seong-min, CEO of Min Political Consulting. "The issue will only bring up conflict within the DPK."
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| Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong enters the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul in this Jan. 18 photo. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han |
Unlike the former presidents, pardoning Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee is gaining traction from the business community.
The vice chairman has been in jail since January for bribing former President Park and her close confidant.
During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki, Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik suggested a special pardon for the Samsung chief, under the rationale that Lee's presence is required for the company to make important semiconductor investment decisions amid intensifying global competition to secure chip-making capacity.
A KEF official said other business lobby groups are also on the same page regarding Lee's pardon, and they are in talks to make a joint statement.
In 2009, former President Lee pardoned Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, Lee Jae-yong's father, just four months after the late electronics guru was convicted of corruption, citing his role in attracting the 2018 Winter Olympics to Korea's alpine town of PyeongChang.
Despite growing calls, a Cheong Wa Dae official said the presidential office has never thought of pardoning the former presidents. Justice Minister Park Beom-kye also said the ministry is not looking into Samsung Vice Chairman Lee's pardon, unless there is a presidential order.
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