South Korean President Moon Jae-in has pardoned former President Park Geun-hye, who was imprisoned after being convicted of corruption, the Asian Ministry of Justice said amid a tense presidential race, Reuters reported.
Park, 69, became South Korea's first democratically elected leader to be removed when the Constitutional Court upheld an impeachment vote in parliament in 2017 over a scandal that imprisoned the heads of two conglomerates, including Samsung.
She was ousted after being found guilty of colluding with a friend to receive tens of billions of won (1 billion won = 1,456,000 leva) from large conglomerates, mostly to fund her boyfriend's family and nonprofit foundations. purpose.
In January, South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a 20-year prison sentence for Park on corruption charges.
Park's lawyer, Yu Yong Ha, said Park apologized for causing public concern and thanked Moon for making a difficult decision.
Moon's office said the Park's pardon was aimed at "overcoming the unfortunate past history, promoting the unity of people to lend a hand in the future."
"I hope that this will make it possible to overcome the differences in thoughts, pros and cons and open a new era of integration and unity," he said.
Earlier, Moon promised not to pardon those convicted of corruption. But many supporters and politicians from the conservative main opposition Power of the People party have called for a pardon for Park ahead of the March presidential election, citing deteriorating health and deepening political controversy.
Opposition lawmakers said Park had health problems while in prison, including shoulder surgery.
Park's imprisonment has become a hot potato that has divided the country, with conservatives holding weekly rallies in central Seoul demanding its release and criticizing Moon until the COVID-19 pandemic erupts.
A Gallup Korea poll in November found that 48% of respondents were against pardoning Park, but their number fell from about 60% earlier this year.
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