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| Former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, right, smiles after receiving flowers from her supporters after being released from prison in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, after finishing up her two-year sentence for taking illegal political fund. / Yonhap |
Ex-PM's return may trigger Moon's reform drive
By Choi Ha-young
Han Myeong-sook, former prime minister during the liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration, was released from Wednesday after finishing her two-year term for taking illegal political fund.
The return of the key figure of the Roh administration may play a pivotal role in the liberal bloc especially with the presidency of Moon Jae-in who served as Roh's chief of staff.
Upon release early Wednesday morning, she was surrounded and welcomed by ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) members including 15 incumbent lawmakers and around 100 supporters. Han ― the nation's first female prime minister, legendary women's rights activist and iconic leader of pro-Roh faction ― was put behind bars in 2015 after the Supreme Court upheld a high court ruling for receiving about 900 million won ($793,000) in illegal political funds from a businessman.
"After last two years, which was never short, I finally met the new world after enduring the severe agony," the 73-year-old said in front of a prison in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. "I could endure hardship thanks to your trust and affection."
The final ruling against Han was made under the conservative Park Geun-hye administration. Then opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, predecessor of the DPK, and then party Chairman Moon Jae-in defined it as a "political revenge" given Han's symbolic role in rallying around liberal citizens.
She has claimed her innocence, with the businessman saying he made false testimony under the pressure by the prosecutors ― a claim which the high and the top courts did not accept.
Han hosted Roh's funeral in 2009 and served as a chief of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation from 2009 to 2010. She also stood against Roh's conservative successor Lee Myung-bak, under whom Han was indicted for the allegation.
Speculation was that some judges and prosecutors made biased decisions against Han and in favor of the conservative Lee and Park administrations. Along with the political heavyweight's release, the ruling party is gearing up its reform drive to sweep away "evil practices" in the judiciary.
"The prosecutors' reckless indictment against her proves the necessity to reform the prosecution," DPK spokeswoman Kim Hyun said in a statement. "Prosecutors who staged the political oppression, abused authority and blindly curried favor with the previous administration are old evils that should be surely eradicated."
Analysts view that she may reemerge as an opinion leader in the pro-Roh faction which revived along with Moon's presidency. "Even if Han is unlikely to do a practical role in the politics, the symbolic figure's case will trigger the reform in judicial circle," Yongin University Professor Choi Chang-ryul said.
The Moon administration has tapped progressive judges to lead the judiciary ― Kim Meong-su as the Supreme Court chief justice; Kim Yi-su as the Constitutional Court president; and Lee You-jung for a Constitutional Court justice, all of whom are known for their rulings in favor of social minorities and firm stance to ensure each judge's independence from the political power.
The conservative Liberty Korea Party, however, blasted Han for "acting like a scapegoat."
"Han was sentenced to jail according to due legal process. The DPK is applying a double standard, advocating Han and calling for a heavy penalty for former President Park at the same time," the main opposition party said in a statement.
The minor opposition People's Party echoed the point. "The DPK leadership's remarks are irresponsible, infringing on the judiciary's independence," floor leader Kim Dong-cheol said. "Respecting the judiciary is the basic principle in keeping public order."
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