President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday granted a special pardon to former South Gyeongsang Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo on the occasion of Liberation Day, reinstating his rights to run for public office despite objections from members of his ruling party. The pardon was endorsed by Yoon after it was recommended by a justice ministry panel last week and approved during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. Kim is a close associate of former President Moon Jae-in who was initially pardoned in December 2022 with five months left of his two-year prison term. The former governor was convicted of conducting an online opinion manipulation scheme to help get Moon elected in the 2017 presidential election. At the time, however, Yoon did not reinstate the former governor's civilian rights, banning him from running for public office until December 2027. Reports that Kim will have his rights reinstated ahead of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day had rattled political circles, with ruling People Power Party chief Han Dong-hoon expressing objections, citing the former governor's lack of remorse for his actions. Special pardons, which are among the president's inherent powers, have often been granted to convicted politicians, business executives and other offenders at the start of a new year or around Liberation Day to reward good behavior and foster national harmony. Source: Yonhap News Agency