The South Korean government said Friday it will grant a pardon to former President Park Geun Hye who is serving a 22-year prison term after being convicted of corruption and other charges.
Justice Minister Park Beom Kye told reporters the amnesty will be given on Friday next week "as a way to unite South Koreans." The government also considered the 69-year-old's deteriorating health that saw her hospitalized recently.
The former president is still popular among supporters of the People Power Party, the main opposition and conservative party. Current President Moon Jae In, a liberal, was elected after Park was removed from office in 2017.
At a press briefing, a spokeswoman for Moon quoted the president as saying, "We should proceed to the new era and leave the pain of the past era behind."
Park expressed her "deep gratitude" to Moon and the government, her lawyer said after meeting with her.
The pardon is seen as an effort by the government of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea to show a generous attitude and gain public support ahead of the presidential election next March.
"Now is the time to gather power for the future rather than fighting over the past," Moon was also quoted as saying.
Park has been held since her arrest in March 2017 after being impeached for abuse of power, embezzlement and accepting bribes from large conglomerates such as Samsung and Lotte Group.
The justice minister said 3,094 prisoners including Park will be granted a pardon. But former President Lee Myung Bak, who is also serving a prison term over bribery and embezzlement, was not included in the list.
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