Iran Press/ Asia: Ms. Park, 69, was the country’s first democratically elected leader to be thrown out of office when the Constitutional Court upheld a parliament vote in 2017 to impeach her over a scandal that also led to the imprisonment of the chiefs of two conglomerates, Samsung and Lotte.
South Korea’s top court in January upheld a 20-year prison sentence imposed after Ms. Park was found guilty of colluding with a friend, who is also in jail, to receive tens of billions of won from the companies, mostly to fund her friend’s family and non-profit foundations.
President Moon Jae-in granted a special pardon to Ms. Park last week, citing her deteriorating health and expressing hope to “overcome unfortunate past history and promote national unity”.
Broadcasters showed Ms. Park leaving a Seoul hospital, where she had stayed since last month for medical treatment, after correction officials delivered a letter of pardon at midnight.
207
Read more:
S. Korea grants special pardon to ex-President Park
S.Korea conservatives elect startup founder to retake presidential office
