SEOUL, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Almost 2,500 people, most convicted of election law violations, have been approved for presidential pardon on South Korean Liberation Day, officials said.
Sunday, Aug. 15, is the 65th anniversary of the Japanese surrender in World War II, which marked the end of 35 years of Japanese occupation of Korea. The Justice Ministry said 2,493 convicts have been approved for pardons, commutations of sentence or reinstatement. Yonhap News Agency reported.
The group includes 2,375 involved in illegal campaigning and other election law violations, along with 91 guilty of other criminal offenses and 27 foreign inmates and prisoners from poor backgrounds.
Several prominent politicians or business leaders are to receive pardons. They include Geon-pyeong, brother of the late former president, Roh Moo-hyun, Kim One-ki, a former National Assembly speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Party, former Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo and Kim Jun-Ki, Dongbu Group chairman.
"The special pardon aims at social unity and resolution of political conflicts by embracing former lawmakers, government officials, local governors and illegal campaigners," a Justice Ministry official said.
