Impeached And Imprisoned For Corruption, Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye To Be Released Thursday Night

Mantan Presiden Korea Selatan Park Geun-hye. (Wikimedia Commons/Republic of Korea Armed Forces)

JAKARTA - Former President Park Geun-hye will be released late Thursday under the pardon of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, after four years and nine months in prison following his impeachment and dismissal for corruption.

Citing Korea Times, December 30, 69-year-old Park is serving a combined 22-year prison sentence since March 2017, after being impeached and removed from office over widespread corruption and an influence-selling scandal involving a close friend accused of manipulating him.

Last week, President Moon Jae-in decided to pardon Park as part of a special amnesty for the New Year. The government said the decision was made in consideration of his deteriorating health and as part of efforts to promote national unity.

President Moon's office said the decision to pardon Park was meant to "overcome the unfortunate past history, promote people's unity and join hands for the future."

"I hope this will provide an opportunity to transcend differences of opinion and pros and cons, and open a new era of integration and unity," his spokesman said.

Park has received treatment at a Seoul hospital for a range of back, shoulder, and other ailments. He is due to receive a pardon certificate at the hospital in early Friday and is expected to remain there until early February.

Former President Park is eligible for government security protections but is not subject to other former president privileges, such as granting special pensions to retired presidents and private secretaries, a legal case against him.

Where he will live after leaving the hospital remains unclear for now, as Park's private home in southern Seoul was auctioned as part of his foreclosure.

To note, the amnesty for Park, the eldest daughter of authoritarian former President Park Chung-hee, is expected to have a significant impact on the upcoming presidential election in March 2022, as she has received strong support from voters in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the main opposition stronghold of the People Power Party.

His supporters are expected to gather near a hospital in southern Seoul to celebrate his release. A number of standing wreaths with messages wishing him his health had lined the road near the hospital.