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Former South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak has been granted presidential pardon Tuesday, December 26.
The amnesty has shortened his 17-year sentence on corruption charges.
The county’s minister for justice made this announcement.
Lee was among the over 1,300 inmates who got amnesties “from the perspective of broad national unity through reconciliation, tolerance and consideration.”
The octogenarian is currently serving 17 year jail term over bribery and embezzlement.
Aside the amnesty, Lee would not have been released until 2036, when he turns 95.
He was culpable for stashing public funds and collecting kickbacks from Samsung Electronics to grant presidential pardon for its late chairman, Lee Kun-hee, who was imprisoned for tax evasion.
He led the country out of global monetary meltdown and won its bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
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The presidential amnesties will take full force from midnight on Wednesday, mark the second time Yoon has exercised his prerogative of mercy since assuming office in May.
In August, Samsung Electronics executive chairman Lee Jae-yong benefited from Yoon’s first pardons.
South Korean presidents have often been jailed immediately after their time in power, once their political rivals took over power.
