Moon’s liberal government stated that the pardon was intended to foster national unity in the face the difficulties caused by the pandemic. Some observers believe Moon might want to reduce conservative criticisms stemming form Park’s health issues, or use Park to divide the opposition in advance of March’s presidential election.
“We must move on to a new era and get over the past pains. Moon stated that it was time to unite all our strengths and not fight against each other over the past.
He said, “In the case former President Park we considered the fact her health condition deteriorated after spending nearly five years in jail.”
According to the Justice Ministry, Park, a 69-year old, is one of 3,094 individuals who will be pardoned Dec. 31. South Korea frequently grants pardons for national holidays or New Year’s Day.
Park has been receiving treatment at a hospital since last month. She will soon be released from the hospital, the ministry stated. Park was admitted to a hospital last month after suffering from a lumbar disk injury, a shoulder injury, and dental problems.
Park expressed her gratitude to Moon for her pardon and stated that she would continue to treat her illnesses. Park said that she would like to extend her greetings to the public at an earlier date.
Park Chung-hee was the daughter of assassinated dictator Park Chung. She was once the darling among conservatives in South Korea. Local media called her “the queen of election” and she was elected as South Korea’s first woman president. She defeated Moon, then a united liberal candidate, with a million votes. Conservatives celebrated Park’s father as a hero for lifting the country from postwar poverty, despite his suppression of human right.
In late 2016, she was impeached and was formally removed as an officer. She was arrested in the next year for a scandalous corruption scheme that led to months of protests.
The Supreme Court upheld her sentence of 20 years imprisonment in January. She could have spent 22 years in prison if she had not been pardoned. Her separate convictions for meddling in the nominations of candidates by her party in 2016 would have meant that she would have served a total of 22 years in prison.
Park described herself as a victim to political revenge. Since October 2017, she has refused to attend her trials.
One of her main charges was that she conspired with Choi Soon-sil (her longtime confidante), to take millions in bribes from some of the country’s most powerful business groups including Samsung while she was in office.
Park’s scandal led dozens of high-profile people to be arrested, indicted and convicted. Choi is currently serving an 18 year sentence. Samsung scion Lee Jaeyong was originally sentenced to five year imprisonment. His term was then reduced to three years and he was released on parole in August.
Moon succeeded Park, winning a special presidential election while the conservatives were in turmoil amid internal conflict over Park’s ouster.
Moon’s five-year term expires in May. He is prohibited by law from running for reelection. Recent polls show that candidates from both the conservative opposition and the government are tied.
It was not immediately clear how Park’s pardon would affect voter sentiment. Although it could provoke a backlash from liberals, some observers believe that it may also rekindle divisions in the opposition camp.
Kim Jae-won, a member of the People Power Party, posted on Facebook, “Even if president Blue House may have impure intents to influence the results for the presidential election with pardon of ex-President Park Geunhye,” “United, we stand and divided, we fall.”
Moon’s office stated that Park’s pardon had nothing to do the presidential election.
“Moon might be accused of trying influence the next election. But releasing a predecessor prisoner has precedent in Korean politics,” stated Leif-Eric Easley a professor at Ewha University, Seoul.
Easley stated that “now that the March 2022 election is set, it’s unlikely that this move will change their positions or the opinion of the public,”
Nearly all of the South Korean ex-presidents or their families or key associates have been involved in scandals during their term or after their departure.
After a 18 year rule, Park’s father was assassinated in 1979 by his spy chief. Moon’s friend, former President Roh Moo hyun, jumped to his death amid corruption investigations involving his relatives in 2009.
Chun Doohwan and Roh Te-woo were also former presidents. They spent time in prison, but were eventually pardoned. Both of them died in this year.
Park’s conservative predecessor Lee Myung-bak is currently serving a 17 year sentence for corruption charges.
Park will be pardoned along with Han Myung-sook (an ex-Prime Minister who was one of Moon’s former political ally), who spent two years in prison on corruption charges. Her civil rights will be restored by the government so that she can vote or run for office.
Separately, Lee Seok-ki, a former leftist lawmaker, was released on parole Friday after serving a nine-year sentence for plotting a pro North Korean rebellion and other charges. Park was still in office when Lee was arrested. He was a member of a small, progressive party that has since been disbanded.
