Park to finalize special pardon plan

President Park Geun-hye will finalize her plan to grant special pardons mostly to those convicted of livelihood-related crimes on Friday, three days ahead of Liberation Day, her office Cheong Wa Dae said.

Park will preside over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the presidential office to confirm the list of those to be granted pardons.

This photo, taken on Aug. 10, 2016, shows President Park Geun-hye attending a meeting on science and technology strategy at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Yonhap)

The pardons are part of celebrations to mark the 71st anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. South Korean presidents usually grant special pardons in commemoration of major national holidays.

Speculation has been rising that the beneficiaries would include CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun, who has been suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which involves hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies, chronic renal failure and related complications.

Last year, the business tycoon was given two and a half years in jail, along with a fine of 25.2 billion won ($22.8 million), for embezzlement, breach of trust and tax evasion.

A day earlier, new ruling Saenuri Party leader Lee Jung-hyun called on Park to offer "large-scale" pardons to those convicted of minor economic crimes so as to give them another chance to contribute to the country's economic growth. (Yonhap)