Sweeping amnesty expected for Liberation Day

The government is expected to grant a sweeping pardon to some 30,000 prisoners to mark Liberation Day on August 15. In particular, the government is expected to grant reprieves to prisoners on death row, reducing their sentences to life imprisonment. Politicians jailed for violating the election law during the April 13 parliamentary polls are also included in the special pardon.

Justice Minister Kim Jung-Kil disclosed the details of the special pardon to President Kim Dae-Jung Tuesday, and will officially announce it on August 12.

The special pardon also comes to commemorate the beginning of the new millennium, to celebrate the mood of detente between the two Koreas and because there have been no amnesties of this kind for some time.

Representatives Lee Myong-Bak, Choi Uk-Chol, Park Kye-Dong and Hong Jun-Pyo of the Grand National Party and Lee Ki-Moon of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, currently serving time for illegal electioneering, are expected to be pardoned.

President Kim is also reportedly considering granting a pardon to Kim Hyun-Chul, the second son of his predecessor, President Kim Young-Sam, and former parliamentarian Hong In-Kil.