Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was released from prison on Friday, nearly five years after being convicted of corruption, igniting speculation about whether she may run for president in March.
When the Constitutional Court upheld a parliament decision to impeach Park in 2017 over a scandal that also resulted in the imprisonment of the CEOs of two businesses, Samsung and Lotte, Park, 69, became the country's first democratically elected leader to be removed from office.
Park was found guilty of colluding with a friend, who is also in prison, to receive tens of billions of won from companies, mostly to fund her friend's family and non-profit foundations. South Korea's top court upheld a 20-year prison sentence imposed after Park was found guilty of colluding with a friend, who is also in prison, to receive tens of billions of won from companies, mostly to fund her friend's family and non-profit foundations
Park was granted a special pardon by President Moon Jae-in last week, citing her failing health and expressing hope to "overcome sad past history and promote national unity."
Park was seen leaving a Seoul hospital, where she had been receiving medical care since last month, after correction officials presented a letter of pardon at midnight.
Park, the daughter of a previous military ruler, did not respond to a request for comment, but her lawyer said Park, the daughter of a former military dictator, apologised for raising public worry and praised Moon for making a "difficult decision."
Park's release coincides with a tight presidential contest between her old party, the main opposition conservative People Power Party, and Moon's Democratic Party.
Until COVID-19 distancing rules hampered the protests last year, Park's imprisonment pided the country, with right-wing, pro-Park groups conducting weekly marches to denounce Moon and his policies and urge for Park's release.
Hundreds of Park's fans braved the cold to arrive to the hospital where she was being treated late Thursday to celebrate her release, with more than 1,000 bouquets of flowers being sent.
According to the Yonhap news agency, over 200 protesters protested her release in downtown Seoul.
It was unclear whether Park will return to politics, but she stated in a memoir released on Thursday that her conviction was politically motivated and that she hoped to "meet the people once more one day."
Yoon Suk-yeol, People Power's presidential candidate and former prosecutor-general who probed the Park issue, said on Friday that he had done his job as a public servant and that he would like to see Park if her health improved.
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