Committee to Free President Park Geun-hye Asks President Moon to Pardon Presidents Park, Lee Myung-bak

December 2, 2021, A Petition by the Committee to Free President Park Geun-hye

Dear President Moon Jae-in,

As witnessed from the petition, many of those who advocate President Park Geun-hye’s pardon firmly believe in her dignity and honesty. Likewise, these individuals endorsed the former president either directly via administrative capacity or by participating in anti-impeachment rallies for the past five years.    

Understandably, during the impeachment trial, one may have doubted President Park’s innocence when mainstream media continuously aired unsubstantiated claims. Nonetheless, for the past five years, numerous individuals have conducted scrupulous research and investigations over the impeachment proceedings and have written nearly a dozen books on the related matter. And by examining these works, it’s apparent that there’s no direct evidence demonstrating President Park conspired with Choi Seo-won to acquire bribes.

Yoon Seok-youl, who directed the impeachment inquiry and charged the former president with “common economic community” and “silent request,” is currently a presidential candidate for the opposition party and is contemplating pardoning President Park.  Mr. Yoon’s said actions ostensibly indicate that he acknowledges the charges leveled against President Park were insufficient at best and that he’s probing a political settlement.

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon and the current representative of the ruling party also urged releasing President Park since the beginning of the year. Similarly, on May 10, President Moon Jae-in spoke at a press conference marking the fourth anniversary of his inauguration and said, “It’s unfortunate that a former president is being kept imprisoned. It is all the more regrettable that she is aging and in poor health. I will make a decision based on national sentiment, judicial justice, equity, and public consensus.”

It has been six months since President Moon made preceding remarks. And we’re at a point where both the ruling and opposition parties confirmed their presidential candidates and entered the presidential race.

The public opinion supporting the pardoning of President Park surpassed 50%, slightly ahead of pardoning President Lee Myung-bak. The poll demonstrates an overwhelming approval from the conservative constituents, and considering our nation’s two-party system, this number may indicate a maximum support.

In effect, all presidential candidates in the last primary, including Yoon Seok-youl, the former impeachment prosecutor and the presidential candidate, and Yoo Seung-min, who led the impeachment bill in the Assembly, pledged to grant President Park a pardon. Of course, the ruling party’s presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, remains cautious of this idea.

Historically, however, there has yet been a presidential pardon carried out with 100 percent approval. It appears that those involved in the illegal protests against the THAAD deployment and the establishment of the Jeju military base will compose a large part of the presidential pardon this Christmas. And I carefully surmise that not all Korean citizens consent to their release.  

In 1997, President-elect Kim Dae Jung and incumbent Kim Young-sam agreed to pardon their political opponents, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. The decision was the result of significant leadership beyond national sentiment. The two former presidents were each sentenced to 17 years but served roughly two years. Contrarily, President Park has remained in prison for almost five years.

Given this historical precedent, some believe that the president-elect should pardon President Park at the incumbent’s request this coming March. But in the case of President Park, it merely requires President Moon Jae-in’s consent alone. The impeachment proceeding occurred prior to President Moon’s incumbency, and the prosecution’s investigations concluded before his administration assumed office.

Rather, it could wind up being more problematic if presidential candidates each argue for and against President Park Geun-hye’s release and if this becomes an issue of the presidential election. In the same vein, if the incumbent president gets embroiled in political controversy over impeachment and the release of the former president at the end of his term, this could ultimately ignite unnecessary anger and resentment among Park’s supporters.

President Kim Dae-jung ordered the establishment of Park Chung-hee’s Presidential Museum during his term of office, and Ms. Park, then the leader of HanNara Party, visited former president Kim’s residence to pay her respects. There she said, “I apologize on behalf of my father for all pains caused under my father’s rule.” In response, Mr. Kim replied, “I highly admire President Park Chung-hee’s efforts to instill ‘anything is achievable’ mentally to the general public. Later, President Kim Dae-jung recalled that day and claimed, “It was as if I was salvaged.”

Following the historical reconciliation and wisdom imparted by former presidents, I sincerely hope President Moon Jae-in will make an executive decision to pardon former President Park Geun-hye by the end of this year and provide a sense of solace to her supporters.  

After all, the act of pardon is best applicable under these circumstances.

Committee to Free President Park Geun-hye (Chaired by Lee Gye-taek) [박근혜 대통령 석방추진위원회 (위원장 이규택, 이하 추진위)]

Signed by a list of people, including former Prime Minister Rho Jae-bong, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, current presidential candidate Kim Kyung-jae, current presidential candidate Choi Dae-jib, former National Assemblyman Lee Gyu-taek, National Assemblyman Park Dae-chul, and Admiral Shim Dong-bo, among others.

They placed the petition in Chosun Ilbo, December 8, 2021 issue, p. A32, as seen below.