Seven hours remain until the release of former President Park Geun-hye.
Tomorrow (31st), when the New Year's special amnesty takes effect, 0 AM is half a day away.
At midnight, former President Park will be freed from the status of a convict who has been sentenced to 22 years in prison and set free after about 4 years and 9 months.
In terms of date, it is only 1,746 days old.
Former President Park, who is hospitalized at Samsung Seoul Hospital in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is expected to receive a pardon from the Seoul Detention Center just before midnight.
Detention center staff will visit the ward and deliver the pardon directly.
When the amnesty is issued, the guards guarding the former President Park will terminate their duties and withdraw.
'Gyeho' is a correctional term meaning that prison guards are vigilant and protect criminals or suspects.
From the moment the amnesty permit is issued, former President Park becomes a non-inmate and a public figure, so she is excluded from the custody of the correctional authorities.
As a result, the staff in charge will be withdrawn from the hospital room, which concludes the amnesty process for former President Park.
Former President Park, who was detained in March 2017, is about to return to the public after four years have passed.
As the impeachment, arrest and conviction of the president resulting from the unprecedented case of state nongdan caused a great shock to Korean society, this amnesty decision is also causing no small waves.
"Why amnesty at this point?"... President Moon's 'health condition'
President Moon Jae-in said in a briefing by Blue House spokesman Park Kyung-mi on the 24th, when Park's pardon was announced, "I also took into account the fact that my health has deteriorated significantly due to serving close to five years in prison." It was stated that 'national unity' was the main reason for the amnesty, but the health condition of former President Park was also a major reason. Former President Park was hospitalized at Seoul Samsung Hospital on the 22nd of last month due to a chronic illness. He was initially scheduled to receive treatment for about a month, but received a specialist opinion that a long-term hospitalization of 6 weeks or longer was required in the subsequent treatment.
Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye also said in a meeting with reporters yesterday, "I looked at the medical records of three hospitals again. It was determined that Park's health had deteriorated to the point that he could not continue his imprisonment. In addition, it was also reported that former President Park had recently been diagnosed with symptoms of mental anxiety and received treatment.
The recent deterioration of former President Park's health seems to have been an opportunity for the Blue House and the government to make a decision. It is highly likely that he judged that the political burden he would face if a serious health problem occurred for former President Park, who is imprisoned at an old age, would not be light. There is a possibility that it was calculated that managing risk factors caused by Park's health condition was more urgent than criticism from all walks of life who would oppose the amnesty decision.
This amnesty has been criticized one after another by progressive civic groups such as the Solidarity for Participation, Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (Gyeongsilyeon), and the 4/16 Sewol Families Council. It was criticized for being inconsistent with the promise it had made to limit the
In response to this, Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication at the Blue House, said in an interview with TBS Radio, "I have no choice but to say that I tried to keep the principle and used my amnesty to a limited extent." I did.
This is a passage that can be read as saying that the decision to amnesty had to be decided even though it was fully expected that criticism from all walks of life would be inflicted.
Amnesty public opinion is 'friendly'... Complicated presidential election calculations surrounding four sides
Public opinion on the amnesty decision turned out to be favorable. The Seoul Shimbun reported today (30th) that as a result of a survey of 1,008 men and women over the age of 18 across the country from the 27th to the 28th on the 27th to the 28th by Gallup Korea, 57.9% of the respondents said that ex-President Park's pardon was 'a good thing'. (※ sample reference error 95% ± 3.1% points to the confidence level, the central poll Review Board website)
CBS also polling agency commissioned the Southern Post 24-25 days Results Night Before survey of men and women 1,010 people over 18 years of age across the country It was reported on the 26th that 59.8% of the responses to the president's amnesty were 'a good decision'. (※ ±3.1% points to 95% confidence level of sampling error, refer to the website of the Central Opinion Survey Deliberation Committee) While
amnesty has emerged as the hottest issue in the political world, it was agreed in the passport that President Moon struggled with ex-President Park’s amnesty alone until just before the announcement. I did. On the day of the announcement, Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung as well as Chairman Song Young-gil said, 'I saw the article title and found out' and 'President Moon seems to have made a lonely decision'. Cho Seung-rae, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party's election committee, publicly stated that "there was no prior consultation with the Blue House and the party and the election committee before the announcement of the amnesty."
Blue House spokeswoman Park Soo-hyun repeatedly told the media that "a pardon is a decision made entirely by the president."
This can be interpreted as saying that President Moon has crossed the 'big mountain' on his own without putting the burden on candidate Lee Jae-myung by making a special amnesty for former President Park.
It is also interpreted as an intention not to burden the Democratic Party, which has switched to the predecessor system, to shoulder the political burden caused by former President Park's amnesty.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, have complex calculations.
Shortly after the amnesty decision was announced, he welcomed it with an official comment from the party level, but he said that the situation should be closely monitored as Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential candidate for the People's Power, led the investigation into the Gukjeong Nongdan case during his time as a prosecutor.
As it seems that there are still loyal supporters in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do, the traditional support base of former President Park, there is also a prospect that support for Candidate Yoon may be relatively weakened.
On the other hand, there are also observations that this amnesty could serve as a cornerstone of conservative unity, as former President Park ordered the unity of conservative supporters by announcing an unusual statement from prison during the last general election.
Shortly after the announcement of the pardon announcement, Candidate Yoon expressed his welcome, saying, "It's late, but welcome. I've heard a lot of people say that you're not in good health, but I hope you get well soon." Analysis.
Candidate Yoon also said at a press conference held in Daegu today, "I would like to visit former President Park Geun-hye when his health is restored."
Except for courtesy, security continues… Park Geun-hye, who was 'calm' at the news of the pardon, but already heated up
Former President Park is expected to stay in the hospital room and continue treatment tonight, when the pardon procedure is completed. In addition, even if the guards of the correctional authorities withdraw, the security of the Presidential Security Service will continue for the time being. Since the security guard of a former president is set for five years after resignation according to the law, he is subject to security until early March of next year, and after that, the security is decided according to discussions between the Presidential Security Service and the police.
Even after that, former President Park is likely to be escorted by police officers. The current law stipulates that even if the former president does not treat him like a former president, he or she can receive security and expenses for a necessary period in exceptional cases. In the case of Chun Doo-hwan, who was pardoned after receiving a sentence of imprisonment or more, the assignment of five police officers was maintained, and even after Jeon's death, police security for his wife Lee Soon-ja is maintained. Supporters and others are likely to gather near the home where former President Park will be staying after being discharged from the hospital, as in front of the old Samseong-dong house, so there is a high possibility that it will be judged that the need for security will be maintained.
However, as former President Park was sentenced to imprisonment or heavier punishment following the impeachment decision, it is excluded from the treatment that former presidents can receive.
As a result, pension payments, support for three secretaries and one driver, government support when private organizations promote commemorative projects, and support for manpower and expenses for cemetery management in the event of death will not be supported.
Former President Park is currently homeless as her private residence in Naegok-dong was sold through a court auction for failing to pay fines and fines.
I am 69 years old this year and my health has recently deteriorated, so caregivers and guardians are also needed.
Accordingly, in addition to lawyer Yoo Young-ha, who is currently known as Park's only lawyer, his younger brother Park Ji-man, chairman of EG, etc., are expected to provide a residence for former president Park.
Even after being discharged from the hospital, the prospect of staying not far from the hospital is prevailing because the patient must continue to receive outpatient treatment.
Separately, attention is also paid to what former President Park will say in front of reporters who will be waiting when he leaves the hospital after recovering his health.
When asked about his reaction and political activity potential when former President Park heard the news on the news on the 24th, Yoo Young-ha said, "He was just calm.
As we have already announced our position on the amnesty decision, it is currently unclear whether additional statements will be made immediately after the amnesty process is completed.
However, the political interest in former President Park, who was pardoned, does not seem to diminish for the time being.
(Planning: D Contents Planning Department / Design: Jinyoung Choi)