Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye Pardoned

In January, a constitutional court sentenced Park to 20 years in prison on corruption charges.

The punishment marked her fall from power and the end of the legal process.

President Moon previously expressed his determination that he would not pardon those convicted of corruption.

However, many supporters as well as politicians from the main opposition People's Power party were calling for Park's pardon ahead of the March 2022 presidential election.

The insistence was based on the grounds that Park's health was deteriorating and that political strife was deepening.

Opposition members in parliament said Park was experiencing health problems in prison, eventually having to undergo shoulder surgery.

Park's prison sentence has been the subject of heated and divisive political debate in South Korea.

Conservatives, who continue to stage weekly demonstrations in downtown Seoul, have called for Park's release. They also launched criticism of President Moon.