Lee Government's First 'Liberation Day Special Pardon' List Includes 'Cho Kuk'... Will He Return to Politics?

[Financial News] It has been reported that former leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Cho Kuk, has been included in the review list for the first '8.15 Liberation Day Special Pardon' under the Lee government. Considering that the list is made in consultation with the presidential office, it is expected to be smoothly finalized. If so, former leader Cho will be released after 8 months of imprisonment.
According to the political and legal circles on the 7th, former leader Cho was included in the Liberation Day special pardon review list of the Ministry of Justice's Pardon Review Committee (chaired by Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho) held that afternoon. It is reported that the committee selected former leader Cho as a candidate for pardon and reinstatement after discussion. Thus, Minister Jeong will report the results to President Lee, and after the State Council's review and resolution on the 12th, he will be confirmed as the final candidate.
The review list is compiled through communication between the presidential office and the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutor's Office, reflecting the president's intentions. As the pardon is the president's exclusive authority, it is expected to be difficult to make a decision contrary to President Lee's wishes.
Pardons are divided into general pardons and special pardons. Among them, special pardons exempt the execution of sentences for those whose sentences have been confirmed. If 'reinstatement' is added, qualifications lost or suspended due to the sentence can be restored. Especially if the right to be elected is reinstated, politicians can run for elections. Therefore, if former leader Cho is pardoned and reinstated, he can return to politics.
Former leader Cho was sentenced to two years in prison last December for charges including college admission fraud for his children and covering up Blue House inspections, and is currently serving his sentence. His sentence is due to end in December 2026, with more than a year remaining.
Former Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon is also mentioned as a pardon candidate. Former Superintendent Cho was tried for abusing his personnel authority to appoint five people, including dismissed professors, from October to December 2018, and lost his position as superintendent after the Supreme Court confirmed a sentence of one year and six months in prison with a two-year probation.
On the other hand, former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young is reportedly not included in the Ministry of Justice's review list. It is said that the consideration was due to the fact that the trial related to President Lee's case is suspended in court, and that excessively broadening the scope of pardons when there is a significant remaining sentence could lead to unnecessary political controversy.
Former Vice Governor Lee was tried for receiving billions of won in bribes from the Ssangbangwool Group and conspiring to send 8 million dollars to North Korea, and was sentenced to a total of 7 years and 8 months in prison by the Supreme Court last June.
 
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter