President Park Grants Special Pardon to CJ Group Chairman
To commemorate the 71st anniversary of the National Liberation Day on August 15, President Park Geun Hye granted special pardons to 4,876 convicts that include CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay Hyun on Friday.
The number of pardons for businessmen was kept to a minimum of 14, and Lee was the only high-profile businessman on the list. Park also said that the pardons were for the sake of economic recovery and national unity.
Korea JoongAng Daily reported that Park finalized the list on a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House Friday morning.
The president said, "I have exercised the right of special pardons in a limited way in order to seek a public consensus. This time, the decision was based on various opinions on how to accomplish national unity and economic recovery. The measure should allow people facing hardship and micro-business owners maintain hope and return to their jobs quickly."
Minister of Justice Kim Hyun Woong formally declared the special pardons after the Cabinet meeting. Aside from the 4,876 convicts, 730 inmates were released on parole and 75 young convicts were released from detention. Also, probations on 925 livelihood-related convicts were lifted.
In addition to this, 1.4 million people who received administrative sanctions were also added commutation. 2,375 fishermen's suspended licenses were also restored.
Minister Kim said, "We included only a certain number of businessmen. Politicians and public servants convicted of election law violations and corruption were completely excluded as well as those convicted of heinous and inhumane crimes."
He also added that CJ Chairman Lee was granted special pardon on humanitarian concerns. Some also said that he could no longer finish his prison term because of his poor health condition. Kim added, "Giving him the opportunity to contribute to the national economy was also considered."
Lee submitted an appeal over his tax evasion and embezzlement case indicating his deteriorating health condition last month. In December last year, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and was ordered to pay 25.2 billion won (US $23 million) fine.
Lee has suffered a number of health problems that include the neurological Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and side effects after a kidney transplant in 2013. He is presently confined and treated at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul.