Pardon looks likely for ex-President Lee Myung-bak

Former President Lee Myung-bak at a court hearing in March 2019. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk-yeol is considering pardons for political figures including President Lee Myung-bak before the end of this year.

The pardons could come as early as Dec. 28, according to sources.

A high-ranking presidential official told the JoongAng Ilbo Friday that Yoon "is leaning toward granting pardons," and that a consensus that Lee should be pardoned is "gaining momentum.

Multiple sources from Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) have also said that a pardon for Lee will likely be granted after Christmas.

On Dec. 20, the Ministry of Justice will convene its amnesty review committee to review the candidates up for pardons. Its final shortlist is expected to be announced after a Cabinet meeting on Dec. 27.

Presidential pardons are customarily granted on major holidays.

Lee served as president from 2008 to 2013. The 80-year-old former president has been serving a 17-year sentence for embezzlement and bribery since November 2020.

If a pardon takes place on Dec. 28, it will likely also take into consideration a suspension of Lee's prison sentence granted in June for health reasons.

Prosecutors granted a three-month suspension and then another three-month suspension in September, which ends this month.

In December 2021, the President Moon Jae-in granted a pardon to former President Park Geun-hye taking into consideration her deteriorated health.

Sources say that that Yoon might also consider pardoning liberal political figures such as former South Gyeongsang Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo for the sake of balance and "reconciliation."

Kim, an ally of Moon, was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to manipulate online opinion ahead of the 2017 presidential election.

If Kim is pardoned this month, he could possibly run in general elections in 2024. Otherwise, will not be able to run for office until May 2028.

Other figures said to be considered for pardons include former Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2018 for taking bribes from the National Intelligence Service in 2014 during the Park Geun-hye administration.

Yoon has been an advocate of a pardon for Lee and told reporters in June that "it's not right that someone should be behind bars for almost 20 years."

Even as a presidential candidate, Yoon mentioned the need for a pardon several times for the sake of "national unity."

While Yoon gave pardons to business figures such as Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, he didn't grant amnesty to any major political figures ahead of Liberation Day last Aug. 15.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]