Choi Seo-won, who is serving a prison term for the Park Geun-hye administration's corruption of state affairs, will be temporarily released for one month.
The Cheongju District Prosecutor's Office announced today (26th) that it made a decision to suspend the execution of Choi's sentence for one month after opening the Suspension Deliberation Committee.
Prosecutors said, "The need for spinal surgery was recognized and the decision was made to suspend the execution of the sentence."
The Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that execution of a sentence of imprisonment may be suspended when there is a concern that the execution of a sentence of imprisonment significantly harms health or that life cannot be preserved.
On the 19th, Mr. Choi applied for a one-month suspension of execution, saying, "I need spinal surgery."
In June 2020, Choi was sentenced to 18 years in prison with a fine of 20 billion won and an additional fine of 6.3 billion won for abuse of power, obstruction of exercise of rights, and bribery, and is currently serving a sentence at Cheongju Women's Prison.
Previously, Mr. Choi applied to the prosecution four times for suspension of execution for reasons such as deteriorating health, but all were dismissed.