Former President Lee Myung-bak recommended for pardon

Lee Myung-bak, left, and Kim Kyoung-soo up for pardon. [YONHAP]

Former President Lee Myung-bak has been recommended for a presidential pardon by a review committee.

In addition to the pardon, he will have his full rights restored and the privileges of an ex-president restored.

Democratic Party icon and former South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Kyoung-soo, who has been serving time for tampering an election, will also be pardoned, but some of his rights will not be restored and he will not be permitted to run for office.

Nine members on the Pardon Review Committee including Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon evaluated the candidates for special year-end pardons on Friday. The review took more than six hours.

If the list is approved by President Yoon Suk-yeol, the pardons will be effective at midnight on Dec. 28.

President Lee was sentenced to 17 years and fined more than 13 billion won ($10.1 million) for embezzlement and bribery. He has been in prison since October 2020.

With the pardon, he will not have to serve the remainder of his term and his fines will be canceled.

Governor Kim is sentenced to two years for meddling in the 2017 presidential election. On Dec. 15. Kim said in a letter he will refuse any favors from the Yoon government, including parole.

Kim, one of the key aides to late President Roh Moo-hyun, has been considered as one of the Democratic Party’s future leaders.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]