Gov't to grant amnesties on Liberation Day

The government has decided to follow through with its plan to grant special amnesties August 14 to celebrate the 55th National Liberation day August 15.

An official at the Ministry of Justice announced that the names of 30,000 individuals affected by the sweeping pardon will be announced as soon as the National Assembly votes during the morning session August 14. Those included in the amnesty are currently serving time for violating public safety and election laws, or committing non-violent crimes for survival and white-collar offenses. Also included are some politicians.

Since liberation was attained, this will be the third time pardons were granted to over 30,000 individuals. Amnesties were also granted in 1993 and 1998 to celebrate presidential inaugurations.

The recipients of the pardons will be released from prisons around the country after receiving official suspensions of sentences, releases on parole or special immunity documents at around 10 a.m. on the morning of August 15. The recipients will be able to reclaim their rights as citizens.

Also on the occasion of the current special amnesties, 40 people on death row will have their sentences reduced to life in prison. A well-known conspirator who assisted North Korean spies, Jung Soo-Il, (former professor at Dankook University), jailed for crimes against social order and safety, and former representatives Lee Myung-Bak, Park Gae-Dong, Hong Joon-Pyo and Lee Ki-Moon, who violated election laws, are also included.

It has also been revealed that the son of former President Kim Hyun-Chul, who escaped a prison sentence through last year`s pardon, will receive a full pardon this year for corruption charges. Also receiving amnesty will be former Chief Presidential Aide Hong In-Kil, who was implicated in the Hanbo Group-Government corruption scandal, and the president of the Joong-Ang Ilbo, Hong Suk-Hwan, who was implicated in the Bokwang Group tax evasion case.