Pardons and Innovation
Amid the rising expectancy of special pardons of businessmen ahead of South Korea’s 70th anniversary of Liberation Day on Aug. 15, economic circles have been requesting pardons. These would be a first under the Park Geun-hye administration.
Park Yong-maan, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), asked for pardons of imprisoned businessmen, even mentioning them at the Jeju Forum held in the evening of July 22.
The request came after the earlier calling for pardons of businessmen in a joint statement made on July 9 by the representatives of 30 business groups.
“If the government pardons ordinary citizens, entrepreneurs should be also included,” Park said, adding, “It is right to suggest that if businesspeople are excluded, it is discrimination.”
Possible beneficiaries from the special pardon may include business tycoons such as SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, the group’s Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, LIG Group Chairman Koo Ja-won and his two sons, and Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, who is now on probation.
In the meantime, President Park Geun-hye is meeting with 17 of the nation’s business tycoons today to discuss ways to run innovation centers, which are a part of the Park administration’s flagship policy. Lee Jae-yong, the heir apparent of the Samsung Group; Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; and Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon were among the meeting attendees.
The planned meeting comes two days after the government finalized setting up 17 Creative Eeconomy and Innovation Centers across the country to nurture startups and ventures with the assistance of 17 business groups.
The meeting, the third of its kind since the current administration, will also be a place for business leaders ask President Park to include convicted business tycoons on the list of beneficiaries from the special pardons that Park plans to grant next month.