Pardon of Prisoners of Conscience at Inauguration Ceremony

The President-elect, Roh Moo-hyun, is said to plan to include two lawmakers in the national constituency system in his new cabinet.

At a luncheon meeting with the President-elect, on Jan. 26 Lee Sang-soo, a senior lawmaker with the ruling Millennium Democratic party (MDP) proposed to select two to three lawmakers elected under the proportional representation system as cabinet members in government agencies and ministries taking the initiative in reform efforts and President-elect Roh responded, "Yes," according to Rep. Lee.

The senior lawmaker added, "Mr. Roh is likely to choose two lawmakers for his new government though he will decided who will be selected for which posts.

Right after his election, Mr. Roh made an announcement that he would exclude incumbent lawmakers from a new government. In a workshop with MDP lawmakers on Jan. 6, however, he responded affirmatively to the suggestions that incumbent lawmakers should participate in the new cabinet so as to push ahead with reform measures.

Meanwhile, the MDP is now considering Lee Jae-Jung as deputy prime minister for education affairs, Park In-sang as minister of labor, and Kim Young-jin as minister of agriculture and forestry.

According to Rep. Lee Sang-soo, Mr. Roh decided to grant leniency to prisoners of conscience at the inauguration ceremony on Feb. 25, and he will include prisoners who are doing time because of their participation in labor or student movements.

Lee quoted the President-elect as saying, "After a close review of prisoners of conscience, I could pardon those who should deserve the leniency." The senior lawmaker explained, "On Buddha’s Day, the presidential pardon will focus on ex-labor and student activists based on a social consensus after having dialogue between the government, labor groups and Hanchongryon, the Korean Federation of University Student Councils."

At the luncheon meeting, as for the pardon, President-elect Roh put emphasis on principles, saying, "I will not grant leniency without principles. I will review pardons that reasonable people will agree on." His saying hints that he will grant clemency at different times case by case.

Yong-Gwan Jung yongari@donga.com