The Ministry of Justice says Park’s pardon is aimed at strengthening international cooperation on the effects of the coronavirus epidemic.
South Korea will pardon former President Park Geun-hye, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence on several corruption charges.
The Ministry of Justice said on Friday that Park’s pardon was aimed at strengthening international cooperation on the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic.
He was on the list of people receiving special pardon and was pardoned “according to national agreement”, Justice Minister Park Beom-kye later told reporters following the ministry’s announcement.
The Yonhap news agency reported that the minister of justice said the former president’s pardon was discussed at a two-day meeting of the ministry’s pardon committee earlier this week.
He said health care was “very important” in the pardon.
Park was arrested and sent to prison in 2017, after a stay was removed from office following a corruption scandal that sparked protests that lasted several months.
Park is the daughter of the late dictator Park Chung-hee.
She was elected South Korea’s first female president.
A 69-year-old man has been jailed for 20 years for corruption and abuse of power, and two years later for violating election laws.
In January, the country’s highest court upheld the decision, rescinding the legal process, and for the first time, showing that pardon could be granted.
The scandal has exposed a vicious circle between big business and politics in South Korea, with Park and his close friend Choi Soon-sil being accused of bribing companies, including Samsung Electronics, for help.
A public debate against Park and his subsequent party helped encourages Moon Jae-in lean left to be strong.
Park has pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying he did not receive the money. He further added that the allegations were made as part of a political coup d’état against the Roh regime.
Park Mayor Lee Myung-bak, who was also arrested, was not pardoned. He is serving a 17-year prison sentence for theft and bribery.
The idea came as many supporters and politicians of the opposition People Power party demanded that Park be pardoned before the March 2022 presidential election.
Moon’s ruling Democratic Party (Moon) flag bearer Lee Jae-myung, and People Power representative Yoon Suk-yeol have been at the forefront of the recent vote.
