Outgoing South Korean president pardons former aides
Lee Myung-bak rejects criticism for releasing confidantes jailed for bribery and vote-buying
Brushing off criticism from his successor, South Korea's outgoing president Lee Myung-bak yesterday pardoned a host of former close aides and confidantes jailed for corruption.
The pardons for 55 people included Lee's long-time confidante and former minister Choi See-joong and friend and businessman Chun Shin-il - both serving prison terms for bribery.
Former parliamentary speaker Park Hee-tae and an ex-senior political affairs aide to Lee were also pardoned. Both were convicted last year for their roles in a vote-buying scandal in Lee's ruling conservative party.
"This is not an abuse of power. It was carried out according to law and procedure," Lee's spokesman told reporters after the pardons were announced.
The list did not include the president's elder brother, Lee Sang-deuk, who was convicted and sentenced last week to two years in jail for corruption. There had been speculation that his brother's case had been rushed through the court to make him eligible for a presidential pardon.
Lee's successor, president-elect Park Geun-hye, who had urged Lee not to hand out the pardons, felt it was "extremely regrettable" that he had nevertheless decided to do so, her spokeswoman told reporters. "The latest special pardons ignore the will of the people and are an abuse of presidential power, and will undoubtedly trigger nationwide condemnation.