In this file photo taken on Sept 6, 2018, former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak (left) arrives at a court to attend his trial in Seoul. The Seoul Central District Court on Oct 5, 2018 sentenced Lee to 15 years in prison over a slew of corruption charges. (JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)
SEOUL — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday granted his special pardons to former President Lee Myung-bak as well as some other politicians and former government officials, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Lee, who had served a single, five-year presidency until February 2013, was sentenced in October 2020 to 17 years in prison for bribery and embezzlement, but his sentence has been put on hold since June for his health problems.
READ MORE: S. Korea ex-president Lee gets 15-year jail term for corruption
With the special pardon to be effective on Wednesday, Lee will be exempted from the remaining 15 years in prison.
It marked the second presidential pardon that Yoon has granted since he took office in May.