South Korea's top economic policymaker on Thursday expressed his full support for the justice minister's recent controversial remark that the government needs to consider pardoning business leaders convicted of crimes in order to help boost the persistently slowing economy.

On Wednesday, Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said in an interview with a local newspaper that the government needs to seriously think about freeing or pardoning convicted CEOs if it can help turn the economy around. 

 After his remarks sparked controversy, the justice ministry later clarified that its stance on fair law enforcement remains unchanged and no preferential treatment will be granted to business leaders.

 "I agree with Hwang's opinion. Of course, businesspeople also should be punished for violating laws, but it would not be helpful in reviving the economy if the laws are enforced too strictly just because they are business leaders," Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan told reporters here. 

"At a time like now when economic recovery is slowing due to sluggish corporate investment, I completely share the view expressed by a person no other than the justice minister who is in charge of law enforcement," he added. (Yonhap)