Advertisement

Dec. 23, 2021 / 5:37 PM / Updated Dec. 23, 2021 at 8:52 PM

South Korea grants special pardon to ex-President Park Geun-hye: gov't

Former Korea President Park Guen-hye (L), shown  meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Susan Rice in 2007, could be granted a pardon soon. Photo by Michael Gross/U.S. State Department

Former Korea President Park Guen-hye (L), shown meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Susan Rice in 2007, could be granted a pardon soon. Photo by Michael Gross/U.S. State Department

Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Park Geun-hye, the former convicted president currently serving a 22-year prison term for corruption, was included among beneficiaries of President Moon Jae-in's special amnesty for the new year, the government announced Friday.

Park has been serving a combined 22-year prison sentence since March 2017 after being impeached and removed from office over far-reaching corruption charges and an influence-peddling scandal.

Advertisement

The amnesty of the 69-year-old former president was decided in consideration of her deteriorating health.

This year, Park was hospitalized three times due to chronic shoulder and lower back pain. In 2019, she received shoulder surgery.

Granting a pardon to Park is expected to have a significant impact on next March's presidential election, as Park has commanded the support of voters in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, a stronghold of the main opposition People Power Party.

Read More

London police arrest six on suspicions being linked to PKK militant group

World News // 23 minutes ago

London police arrest six on suspicions being linked to PKK militant group

Dec. 10 (UPI) -- London police on Tuesday announced six people have been arrested on charges of being linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a militant group banned as a terrorist organization in Britain.

6 Guatemalans arrested, charged with human smuggling in deadly 2021 Mexico crash

World News // 4 hours ago

6 Guatemalans arrested, charged with human smuggling in deadly 2021 Mexico crash

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Six Guatemalans have been arrested and charged with human smuggling three years after a semi-trailer truck carrying at least 160 migrants overturned in Chiapas, Mexico, and killed more than 50 migrants.

Tokyo introduces four-day workweek for government workers to boost birth rates

World News // 5 hours ago

Tokyo introduces four-day workweek for government workers to boost birth rates

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Tokyo will implement a four-day workweek for government employees next year to encourage young people to get married and start families.

U.N. Security Council holds emergency meeting following collapse of Syria's Assad regime

World News // 21 hours ago

U.N. Security Council holds emergency meeting following collapse of Syria's Assad regime

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Moscow said that the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session at its request Monday to discuss the situation in Syria following the overthrow of the Assad regime by opposition forces.

U.S., Japan, Republic of Korea meet over 'concerning developments' in DPRK, Russia

World News // 10 hours ago

U.S., Japan, Republic of Korea meet over 'concerning developments' in DPRK, Russia

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The United States and Japan are expressing concerns about developments in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the "deepening military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia," the U.S. State Department said.

Japanese atomic bomb survivors to receive Nobel Peace Prize

World News // 13 hours ago

Japanese atomic bomb survivors to receive Nobel Peace Prize

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A group of Japanese survivors of the World War II atomic bombings on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945, is set to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Tuesday.

China launches probe into Nvidia's acquisition of Israeli tech firm

World News // 16 hours ago

China launches probe into Nvidia's acquisition of Israeli tech firm

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Shares of Nvidia fell Monday after Chinese regulators announced a probe into the American tech giant over claims it may be violating one of China's antitrust laws.

EU climate service: World on track for hottest ever year after second-warmest November

World News // 19 hours ago

EU climate service: World on track for hottest ever year after second-warmest November

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- 2024 is firmly on track to be the hottest year ever after the European Union reported a November average global surface temperature 0.73 degrees Celsius higher than the 1991-2020 average.

South Korea's Yoon placed under travel ban as martial law probe widens

World News // 23 hours ago

South Korea's Yoon placed under travel ban as martial law probe widens

SEOUL, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was banned from leaving the country Monday as investigations for treason and abuse of power over his short-lived martial law decree get underway.

Australian police declare Melbourne synagogue fire 'a terrorist attack'

World News // 1 day ago

Australian police declare Melbourne synagogue fire 'a terrorist attack'

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in Australia confirmed Monday that last week's Melbourne synagogue fire is being investigated as "a terrorist attack."

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement