Who's on President Lee Jae Myung's first pardons list?

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李정부 첫 광복절 특사… 누가 포함되어 있나?

South Korean President Lee issued his Liberation Day special pardons today.
The clemency list spans high-profile politicians, business leaders, and members of the public.
Our Top Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin has the details.

With South Korea's National Liberation Day on Friday, the customary presidential pardons have been announced.
At an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Monday, clemency was granted to 2-thousand-1-hundred-88 people.

"This round of pardons is aimed at responding to the call for national unity, creating an opportunity to overcome division and conflict, and revitalizing the struggling economy amid global uncertainty."

At the center of attention is Cho Kuk, former head of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party.
Cho, who served as Justice Minister and senior presidential aide to former President Moon Jae-in, has been serving a two-year prison term since last December for academic fraud involving his children and unlawfully interfering with a government-led corruption inspection.

"The Rebuilding Korea Party is an opposition party, and Cho Kuk is not a close associate of President Lee.
In fact, he is among those whose pardons were widely requested by figures from various political and religious circles."

Pardoned with a restoration of rights, Cho can run for public office again, with speculation that he may enter the 2026 local elections.
Also among the 27 pardoned politicians is former lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang, convicted of embezzling funds from a civic group supporting Korean wartime sex slaves, known as "comfort women."
The main opposition People Power Party blasted the pardons as a "reward for regime change."

The pardons this time also aim to boost people's livelihoods.

"We expect pardons for key business leaders to help create jobs and drive dynamic growth, while clemency for small business owners and self-employed workers will support stability and recovery in the local economy."

Notable names include former SK Networks chairman and CEO Choi Shin-won.
Others include those who were sent to labor facilities for failing to pay court-imposed fines, as well as taxi and bus drivers.
The first round of pardons under the new administration will take effect this Friday.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

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2025-08-11, 20:00 (KST)