A pardoner’s tale
Published: 31 Dec. 2017, 21:13
The government considered pardoning those convicted after anti-government rallies related to the sinking of the Sewol ferry, the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense antimissile system and other controversial projects. Instead, it included just 25 residents arrested while protesting against the Yongsan redevelopment project. This was the right decision as the five high-profile protests included questionable figures. Despite strong petitions, Moon also opted not to pardon Han Sang-gyun, former head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who led a massive protest against the Park Geun-hye administration for poor handling of the Sewol ferry sinking, and Lee Seok-gi, former lawmaker of the disbanded Unified Progressive Party, serving nine years in prison for violating the National Security Law.
Still, he made one exception by pardoning one politician — Chung Bong-ju, a former Democratic Party lawmaker who finished a one-year jail term and was stripped of his eligibility to run for public offices until 2022. He was convicted of spreading false allegations against former President Lee Myung-bak. Chung’s new freedom to speak openly and run for office could give traction to the prosecution probe into illegalities committed during the Lee administration.
Presidential pardons must not be exercised for political purposes. Moon’s pardons focusing on people should be the new benchmark.
JoongAng Ilbo, Dec. 30, Page 26
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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