There was nothing to say about the pardon, only the impression of the judgment.
The Blue House announced on the 14th that “the constitutional spirit that Korea is a democratic republic has been embodied” against the Supreme Court ruling that sentenced former President Park Geun-hye to 20 years in prison, 18 billion won in fine, and 3.5 billion won in additional fines.
Former President Park Geun-hye is holding a press conference to apologize to the public on October 25, 2016 at the Blue House. Former President Park was sentenced to a final trial in the Supreme Court on the 14th. The total imprisonment period is 22 years. Blue House Photo Reporters
Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a briefing that day, “The case of the Gukjeong Nongdan was ended with a judicial judgment of the court following the candlelight revolution by the people and the impeachment of the National Assembly. It means the maturity and development of Korean democracy,” he said. He said, “The unfortunate incident that led to the former president’s imprisonment should be taken as a historical lesson and this should not happen again.” The Blue House did not make a stand when the former president was sentenced to the Supreme Court in October last year.
Former President Park will serve a total of 22 years, adding to the ruling on the’Gukjeong Nongdan’ and the’National Intelligence Service’s special activity expense reimbursement case’ and two years of imprisonment for intervention by the old Saenuri Party. The release date is March 2039, when he turns 87.
The Supreme Court ruling on that day provided conditions for the two former presidents to be subject to amnesty.
However, from the beginning of the new year, the Blue House did not take a stand on the issue of amnesty, which has heated the politics.
I avoided mentioning the amnesty itself. A key member of the Blue House said, “I didn’t hear much from the President about the amnesty. It is not appropriate to comment on the amnesty as soon as the Supreme Court sentence is issued.”
In the end, the answer to the controversy over the amnesty raised by Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon is expected to unfold in the order of President Moon. At the New Year press conference of President Moon, which is expected next week, related questions are bound to come up, and it has become inevitable for President Moon to answer directly in either direction. An official at the Blue House also suggested that President Moon is preparing his own position, saying, “Would you like to receive related questions at the conference?”
However, positions within the Blue House are divided as to which direction President Moon will make.
An official from Cheong Wa Dae’s Jeong Mu-line said, “The day before the Supreme Court ruling, Choi Jae-sung, head of Jeong Moo-suk, appeared on the broadcast and revealed the’people’s eye level’ as a prerequisite for amnesty. “Inside, there are a lot of airflows to understand that the’premature amnesty theory’ was formulated.” The background of this judgment is said to be related to the antipathy of key supporters ahead of the Seoul-Busan mayoral by-election in April.
On the other hand, another official said, “The former president has already served for a long time,” and said, “It is time to consider the amnesty because it can be a political burden for the presidential election next year to lead the current situation throughout the term.” In the passport, there is the so-called’separate amnesty’, in which only one of the two former presidents is pardoned, and there is also the’amnesty inevitable theory’ that says, “Amnesty is a matter of timing and must be achieved within the term of President Moon.
President Moon Jae-in presented a certificate of credentials to Ambassador Kang Chang-il to Japan at the Blue House on the morning of the 14th when the Supreme Court’s final hearing against former President Park Geun-hye was held. He said nothing about the former president’s pardon. yunhap news
In any case, the political burden related to the amnesty has become a situation that President Moon has to bear.
Professor Kang Won-taek of Seoul National University said, “The situation has passed when the controversy over delayed the decision while the amnesty issue has risen above the surface.” You can give it, but if you don’t, you will be drawn to the issue if you pardon for the entire term.
Reporter Kang Tae-hwa [email protected]