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Lee Nak-yon, leader of the Democratic Party, gives a New Year’s interview with Yonhap News on Jan. 1. (Yonhap News)

On Jan. 1, Lee Nak-yon, leader of South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party, raised the possibility of offering pardons to former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, both of whom are serving lengthy prison sentences.

Lee Nak-yon told Yonhap News during an interview that he would approach current President Moon Jae-in about pardoning his two predecessors at an appropriate time.

“It occurred to me that this issue should be dealt with at an appropriate time since this is effectively President Moon’s last year on the job,” the party leader said.

While others have raised the possibility of pardoning Lee and Park before, we don’t think this should have been the first message that the leader of the ruling party offered the public in 2021.

Since Korea is facing numerous challenges, including the need to defeat COVID-19 and to revitalize the economy, it’s hard to understand why Lee Nak-yon would stir up political controversy by bringing up pardons, an issue that bears little relevance to the lives of ordinary people, at the turn of the year.

“I plan to bring the idea before President Moon regardless of whether it’s supported by our base. Our party needs to play a more proactive role in the future,” Lee added.

Lee’s remarks suggest that he’ll use his bully pulpit as head of the ruling party to champion pardons, a power reserved for the president.

A high-ranking official at the Blue House maintained reserve on the subject. “This is the first time Lee Nak-yon has brought up the subject. He’ll have to actually make a proposal before we discuss it,” the official said.

This official added that Lee’s mention of pardons hadn’t been officially discussed inside the Democratic Party. Lee appears to have been speaking on his own volition.

The response inside the Democratic Party has apparently been largely negative, with members contending that there’s no national consensus in favor of pardons and that the timing isn’t right.

Pardoning the two former presidents, Lee said, “could be crucial for achieving national unity.” We don’t find that argument convincing.

Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye are doing time for the serious crimes they committed. Before they receive a pardon, they ought to at least show contrition and make a candid apology. But neither of the two former presidents have ever shown any remorse for their wrongdoing.

When South Korea’s Supreme Court upheld Lee Myung-bak’s conviction on bribery and embezzlement in October 2019, which carried a prison sentence of 17 years, he was fiercely defiant. “The rule of law has collapsed. I’m worried about the country’s future,” he remarked.

Before the parliamentary elections on Apr. 15, 2020, Park Geun-hye meddled in real politics from her prison cell, appealing to “everyone who raised the Taegeukgi [Korean flag] to join together around the main opposition party.” The Supreme Court is scheduled to issue its verdict on Park’s influence-peddling case on Jan. 14.

The argument that releasing former presidents from prison can bring about national unity is behind the times. It also conflicts with Koreans’ sentiments about the legal system, not to mention their common sense. Rather than unifying the public, such a step could aggravate divisions.

Besides, there’s another area in which national unity is urgently needed. The wealth gap and income inequality exacerbated by COVID-19 are kindling social conflict. The head of Korea’s ruling party ought to have released a plan for resolving such issues in his New Year’s message.

The Justice Party and even the conservative opposition parties have been critical of Lee’s idea. “This is completely wrong; in fact, it’s unjust,” said Justice Party leader Kim Jong-chul, calling on Lee to walk the idea back.

Kim Chong-in, interim head of the People Power Party, was dismissive as well. “I haven’t heard anything about it. It didn’t even come up in my previous meeting [with Lee on Dec. 30],” said Kim, who offered a heartfelt apology to the Korean public on Dec. 15 for the imprisonment of the two former conservative presidents and for Park’s impeachment.

People’s Party head Ahn Cheol-soo, who announced his bid for the Seoul mayoralty on Dec. 20, also weighed in on the topic. “Any attempt to exploit the pardon of former presidents in the [upcoming] election would be unacceptable.”

The only party that expressed support for the pardons was the Our Republican Party, which represents the far-right protesters in the “Taegeukgi Brigade.” “This proposal is welcome, albeit late. President Park Geun-hye should be released from prison immediately, and the wrongfulness of her illegal impeachment should be acknowledged,” the party said.

Since support for Lee Nak-yon and the Democratic Party has been sagging in recent weeks, it’s understandable that he would be desperate to turn the situation around. But considering that Lee may well be the ruling party’s nominee for president next year, this is the time for him to keep his cool, take the long view, and make a wise decision.

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]