The fourth envoy of 文… Analysis of “Han Myung-suk and Lee Seok-ki were removed to exclude MB”

In the fourth special pardon issued by President Moon Jae-in on the 29th, former President Lee Myung-bak, former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, and former United Progressive Party lawmaker Lee Seok-ki were all missing. Economic offenses that were excluded from the amnesty in 2017 and 2019 were included mainly for small and medium-sized businesses and small business owners, considering the economic difficulties of the people’s livelihood caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19), but this time only politicians were excluded.

President Moon specially pardoned former Governor of Gangwon-do Lee Gwang-jae, former Seoul Metropolitan Government Superintendent of Education Kwak Roh-hyun and former chairman of the KCTU Han Sang-gyun as a special envoy in December last year ahead of the April 15 general election this year. In particular, former Governor Lee Gwang-jae, who was former President Roh Moo-hyun’s aide, ran for general election in April and ran for Wonju Gap in Gangwon Province.

Even before this special envoy, the possibility of pardon and rehabilitation of former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook and former lawmaker Lee Seok-ki was raised in the political world. Former Prime Minister Han was sentenced to two years in prison for receiving illegal political funds, and was released for maturity in August 2017, and his right to vote is restricted until 2027. Lee, former lawmaker, was arrested in 2013 on charges of inciting civil war and was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2015 at the Supreme Court. September 2022 is the expiration date of release.

Former President Lee Myung-bak was also not on the list of pardons. Former President Lee was sentenced to 17 years in prison in the Supreme Court in October, but from the beginning it is said that the envoy was not considered. Some analysts say that former Prime Minister Han and former lawmaker Lee established the principle of exclusion of politicians to exclude former President Lee from the pardon.

A legal official said, “At the time of Lee’s presidency, former President Roh Moo-hyun killed himself in 2009 due to an investigation into the bribery case of Park Yeon-cha. Unless the MB pardon will be difficult,” he explained. An aide to former President Lee said, “I had no great expectations soon after the final judgment was reached.”

Former President Park Geun-hye was not eligible for pardon in principle, as the trial had not yet ended. An aide to the former President Park said, “There are several methods, whether it is a suspension of execution or a pardon, but this government does not show willingness to release the former president.” I will.”

Sim Jae-cheol, the Prosecutor General of the Ministry of Justice, explained in a briefing that “politicians and electoral offenders were excluded from the pardon from the beginning, considering the purpose of pardoning the public.”

The Ministry of Justice included 52 people, including small and medium-sized businesses and small business owners, as the target of the pardon in consideration of the difficult situation in the national economy due to the Corona 19 incident. However, the total number of large companies and management were excluded. During the presidential election, President Moon promised severe penalties for economic crimes such as embezzlement or betrayal and limited pardon.

Among the seven social conflict incidents in the past, 26 people involved in the assembly against the Jeju naval base and against the THAAD (high-altitude missile defense system) were also included in the pardon. The seven major social conflict cases include these two rallies: ▶Mad cow disease candlelight rally ▶Rally against the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement ▶Rally about the Sewol ferry ▶Rally about the Ssangyong motor occupation strike ▶Rally against the Miryang transmission tower.

In the previous three special pardons, many people who were punished for participating in the 7th rally were pardoned and reinstated. Director Shim Jae-cheol said, “In the same case, 125 people were pardoned last year,” and said, “We considered the end of the war and the level of equity for the case for which additional trials were confirmed.”

In addition, administrative sanctions were reduced for 1.11 million people who suspended or revoked driver’s licenses and fishing licenses essential to their daily life and livelihoods, giving livelihood drivers an opportunity to return to economic activities early. However, drunk drivers, those who caused deaths, and violent drivers were excluded from the special reduction.

Reporter Kim Minsang [email protected]