President Park Geun-hye on Monday indicated she would grant special pardons next month to mark the 70th anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japan’s colonial rule, in a surprise move seen as a conciliatory gesture toward business and political circles.

At a meeting with her senior secretaries, the president also requested her new political aide Hyun Ki-hwan to make utmost efforts to rebuild the public’s trust toward the government and the ruling Saenuri Party, sending signals that she wished to restore her relationship with her party.

“The people are struggling with their lives now,” she said at the meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae.

“Special pardons will be needed to mark the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day as well as to achieve national growth and forge national reconciliation.” The president also asked her secretaries to review the list of candidates and set the criteria for and number of the planned pardons.

Though she didn’t specify details of the plan, her remarks immediately raised questions over whether she would exercise her special authority to release imprisoned business tycoons and political bigwigs.

The remark was also surprising as Park has rarely used her right to give clemency ahead of the national holidays like Liberation’s Day, Chuseok and Lunar Holiday.

Despite repeated calls from politics and business, the president said she would administer the law strictly and treat all criminal offenders equally. Cheong Wa Dae also has expressed concerns over public criticism as the president granting pardons on high-profile businessmen is still widely viewed as government favoritism to conglomerates.

In May, Park also lashed out at the special pardons granted by her two predecessors to deceased businessman Sung Woan-jong, saying such decisions undermined the rule of law. She even said the system of granting special paroles should be fixed to break the chain of corruption.

However, Park’s planned use of presidential pardons next month suggests that she may seek a change in her leadership as well as her image of an “obstinate and uncommunicative” president. Park enters a halfway point in her five-year term in August, in which many fear that she would start losing momentum in her drive on state affairs as public attention shifts to the general election in April next year, and also to the presidential election in 2017.

By issuing special pardons, Park is seen trying to become more sympathetic toward the public at a critical time when the nation suffers from sluggish economy.

Park has granted special paroles once so far, and only for minor crimes committed by those living in poverty on Lunar New Year’s Day last year. She has not granted presidential pardons for any politicians or businessmen in prison since taking office in early 2013.

If exercised, Park will be issuing special pardon for the second time. Under the law, South Korean presidents are not required to seek parliamentary endorsement for their exercise of special pardons.

The ruling Saenuri Party and the business community welcomed Park’s plan.

The Federation of Korean Industries said the president’s decision was “very encouraging” for businesses struggling with unfavorable economic conditions.

Some business insiders have been calling for the release of key members of families that run conglomerates, saying keeping them in jail could delay the companies’ key operations. Politicians have also argued that the government should release businessmen to revive business investments and prop up the nation’s slowing economy.

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won has been in jail for more than two years on charges of embezzlement. CJ chairman Lee Jae-hyun was also sentenced to three years in jail on charges of tax evasion and accounting fraud last year, but was granted a stay of execution due to health problems. By Cho Chung-un ()


koreaherald@heraldcorp.com