Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, sentenced to 20 years in prison for a resounding corruption scandal that precipitated her impeachment in 2017, has been pardoned, the Minister of Justice announced on Friday (December 31).
Park Geun-hye is on a list of those granted special amnesty and has been pardoned in "
a perspective of national unity
," Park Beom-kye told reporters.
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The 69-year-old was serving a 20-year prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power, followed by two more years for violating electoral law.
"
We must overcome the pain of the past and move forward into the new era
," said President Moon Jae-in, who rose to power in the wake of impeachment in 2017.
Given the many challenges we face, national unity and humble inclusion are more urgent than anything.
"
Moon also explained that Park's declining health after five years in prison was part of the reason for his decision.
The former president has been hospitalized several times this year and is currently in care in the capital.
The amnesty will take effect on December 31, the justice ministry said. "
I express my deep gratitude to President Moon Jae-In and to the government authorities who have decided to grant me amnesty despite many difficulties
", she reacted through an adviser, according to the Yonhap news agency.
The first woman to be elected president of South Korea in 2013, Park Gye-hye was convicted in 2018 of receiving or requesting tens of millions of dollars from South Korean conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics, for sharing classified documents. secrets, to have put on a "
black list
" artists critical of his policy, or to have dismissed officials who opposed his abuse of power. This scandal had thrown a harsh light on the troubled connections between these family conglomerates and political power.
South Korea is known for the severity of its justice against former heads of state.
Four former South Korean presidents were sentenced after the end of their terms.
Lee Myung-bak, the only ex-president still alive with Park Gye-hye, is currently serving a prison sentence for corruption.
