President Park pardons more than 6，500， including 14 business leaders
광복 70주년, Hoping to boost morale and revive the economy ahead of the 70th anniversary of Korea′s liberation from Japan′s colonial rule， President Park Geun－hye has issued a general amnesty.
This is only the second time the president has exercised her pardon power… since taking office in 2013， and this time she pardoned only a handful of business tycoons.
Choi You－sun reports.
The list of more than 65－hundred people granted special amnesty on Thursday includes people who committed petty crimes for their own survival and the owners of small and medium－sized enterprises.
Fourteen of the people are conglomerate executives， and the only conglomerate head to make the list is SK Group Chairman Chey Tae－won， who was serving a four－year sentence for embezzlement.
″The government has impartially selected 14 businessmen， including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae－won， to either spare them from their remaining prison terms or to lift certain restrictions in their sentences.″
Contrary to expectations， neither Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung－youn nor LIG Nex1 Vice Chairman Koo Bon－sang were on the list， likely because neither of them met the requirements.
″Among the businesspeople， we did not include people whose sentences were issued recently， those who haven′t served enough time on their prison term， those whose crimes were committed during the current administration′s term and those who failed to pay fines.″
Also， no politicians or public servants who are in prison were pardoned.
According to the justice minister， President Park Geun－hye had stressed that the Korean people should be able to relate to the latest amnesty， as she′s aiming to help boost morale and revive the domestic economy.
″Prior to Thursday′s announcement， President Park， who had pledged not to abuse her amnesty power， said she expects the pardons to give ordinary citizens and small business owners a chance at a comeback.″
In pardoning the business leaders， the president said she expects the amnesty to help with efforts to revitalize the economy and create jobs.
Aside from the roughly 65－hundred people who were pardoned today， another 2－point－2 million people were either granted parole or released from certain administrative restrictions so that they and their business operations can get back to normal.
Choi You－sun， Arirang News.,
