Government Plans Pardons for 300

President Roh Moo-hyun plans to grant a special pardon to a total of 300 prisoners, including 150 business leaders and several politicians ahead of the fourth anniversary of his inauguration, Cheong Wa Dae said on February 8.

While former Doosan Group Chairman Park Yong-seong is likely to be included on the list, Kim Woo-joong, former Daewoo Group Chairman, will not be granted a pardon. Those who will get amnesty include Park Ji-won, former presidential chief of staff under the previous Kim Dae-jung administration, and former New Millennium Democratic Party leader Kwon No-gap.

Presidential spokesman Yoon Seung-yong said, “Most of those on the list are SME owners and self-employed. Others are businessmen related to illegal political donations and some politicians.”

Regarding whether Kim Woo-jung will be pardoned, he said, “It has not been confirmed. But he is not likely to be granted one.” Initially, Cheong Wa Dae was positive about giving Mr. Kim amnesty at the request of the business sector. But it excluded him from the list after considering criticism from the public of the government pouring tens of trillions of won into Daewoo, Kim’s company, to prevent it from going bankrupt.

Also, those who benefit from the government measure are business leaders charged with accounting fraud –former president of Jinro Jang Jin-ho, former president of Donga Group Choi Won-seok, and honorary president of Daesang, Im Chang-wook – and Goh Byeong-woo, former president of Dong Ah Construction, and Kim Gwan-soo, head of Hanhwa S&C, who are charged with making illegal political donations.

The government is going to finalize a list of those who will be granted clemency in an extraordinary cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook on February 9. The list will take effect on February 12 after going through a legal procedure.

jyw11@donga.com