SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - There appears to be no special amnesty for this year's Liberation Day, which falls on Aug. 15 next week.
According to legal sources on Tuesday, the Justice Ministry held a meeting for parole assessments the previous day to screen eligible candidates based on their conduct in prison, remaining sentences and risk of reoffending.
However, a special pardon which often involves high-profile figures and politicians, is unlikely to be possible this year, given the time left until Liberation Day, as the process takes more than a couple of months and requires Cabinet deliberation and approval before it can be finalized.
President Lee Jae Myung last year granted a large-scale special pardon to some 836,687 people convicted of public order offenses on his first Liberation Day in office, shortly after his inauguration in June.
Those pardoned included political figures such as Cho Kuk, former leader of the liberal Rebuilding Korea Party and Yoon Mi-hyang, former head of a charity for wartime sex slavery victims.
No special pardons were granted afterward, as Lee appeared to see little need for another round of large-scale pardons and skipped occasions such as Christmas, New Year's Day and March 1 Independence Movement Day.
AJP Takeaways:
- No special pardon is expected for Liberation Day on Aug. 15, 2026, as there is insufficient time to complete the required procedures before the holiday.
- The Justice Ministry held a parole assessment meeting on Aug. 10, 2026, screening eligible inmates based on factors including prison conduct, remaining sentences and risk of reoffending.
- A special pardon typically takes more than two months to finalize and requires deliberation and approval by the Cabinet, making a Liberation Day pardon unlikely this year.
- President Lee Jae Myung granted a special pardon to about 836,687 people in August 2025, shortly after his June 2025 inauguration and ahead of his first Liberation Day in office.
- The August 2025 pardon included prominent political figures such as Cho Kuk and Yoon Mi-hyang, while President Lee Jae Myung has not granted another special pardon on occasions including Christmas, New Year's Day or March 1 Independence Movement Day.
According to legal sources on Tuesday, the Justice Ministry held a meeting for parole assessments the previous day to screen eligible candidates based on their conduct in prison, remaining sentences and risk of reoffending.
However, a special pardon which often involves high-profile figures and politicians, is unlikely to be possible this year, given the time left until Liberation Day, as the process takes more than a couple of months and requires Cabinet deliberation and approval before it can be finalized.
President Lee Jae Myung last year granted a large-scale special pardon to some 836,687 people convicted of public order offenses on his first Liberation Day in office, shortly after his inauguration in June.
Those pardoned included political figures such as Cho Kuk, former leader of the liberal Rebuilding Korea Party and Yoon Mi-hyang, former head of a charity for wartime sex slavery victims.
No special pardons were granted afterward, as Lee appeared to see little need for another round of large-scale pardons and skipped occasions such as Christmas, New Year's Day and March 1 Independence Movement Day.
AJP Takeaways:
- No special pardon is expected for Liberation Day on Aug. 15, 2026, as there is insufficient time to complete the required procedures before the holiday.
- The Justice Ministry held a parole assessment meeting on Aug. 10, 2026, screening eligible inmates based on factors including prison conduct, remaining sentences and risk of reoffending.
- A special pardon typically takes more than two months to finalize and requires deliberation and approval by the Cabinet, making a Liberation Day pardon unlikely this year.
- President Lee Jae Myung granted a special pardon to about 836,687 people in August 2025, shortly after his June 2025 inauguration and ahead of his first Liberation Day in office.
- The August 2025 pardon included prominent political figures such as Cho Kuk and Yoon Mi-hyang, while President Lee Jae Myung has not granted another special pardon on occasions including Christmas, New Year's Day or March 1 Independence Movement Day.
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