Convicts of Security and Labor Laws Pardoned

The government said on April 22 that it will pardon or reinstate about 1,500 inmates and offenders convicted of violating security laws next week.

“Election law violators and general criminals will not be included in this special pardon,” said an official at the Ministry of Justice.

Initially, the Justice Ministry decided to release about 1,300 offenders convicted of breaking security laws, but later increased the number of those to be pardoned in the course of consultation with the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae and other related ministries.

President Roh Moo-hyun is expected to approve the pardon at a cabinet meeting no later than April 29.

The special pardon will cover a large number of offenders who violated security, assembly and demonstration, and labor laws.

Regarding various security crimes, in particular, among inmates convicted of breaking security laws, those who were already released and paroled will be given pardons or will be reinstated.

“Students of Hanchongryon, or the Federation of Korean University Student Councils are excluded from the pardon since the decision will only apply to convicted felons,” said an official at the Justice Ministry.

Accordingly, convicts related to Daewoo Motor’s strikes, members of the Democratic Revolution Party, and Hanchongryon members who visited North Korea, are being discussed. Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Dan Byoung-ho, recently released, will be reinstated.

Meanwhile, conscientious objectors will not be included, the Justice Ministry said.

“Among draft dodgers and those who refused to use guns in the military, civil groups called for pardons of the latter,” said a senior official at the ministry. “The Ministry of Defense is responsible for this matter. But they haven’t made any decisions.”

Myoung-Gun Lee Sang-Rok Lee gun43@donga.com myzodan@donga.com