South Korea's President Moon Pardons Disgraced Park amid Tight Presidential Race

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's President Moon Jae-in granted a pardon to former President Park Geun-hye, who was in prison after being convicted of corruption, the justice ministry said on Friday, amid a tight presidential race.

Park Geun-hye, aged 69, became South Korea's first democratically elected leader to be thrown out of office when the Constitutional Court upheld a parliament vote in 2017 to impeach her over a scandal that also landed the heads of two conglomerates, including Samsung, in jail.

She was brought down after being found guilty of colluding with a friend to receive tens of billions of won from major conglomerates mostly to fund her friend's family and nonprofit foundations.

In January, South Korea's top court upheld a 20-year prison sentence for Park Geun-hye on the graft charges that finalised her downfall, bringing an end to the legal process.

Park Geun-hye's lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha said she had offered an apology for causing concern to the public and thanked Moon Jae-in for making a difficult decision.

Moon Jae-in's office said pardoning Park Geun-hye was intended to "overcome unfortunate past history, promote people's unity and join hands for the future".

"I hope this would provide a chance to go beyond differences in thoughts and pros and cons, and open a new era of integration and unity", his spokeswoman quoted him as saying.

Moon Jae-in had previously pledged not to pardon those who were convicted of corruption. But many supporters and politicians of the conservative main opposition People Power party have called for Park Geun-hye's pardon ahead of the March presidential election, citing her deteriorating health and deepening political strife.

Opposition lawmakers have said that Park Geun-hye has experienced health problems while in prison, including undergoing shoulder surgery.

Park Geun-hye's imprisonment had become a political hot potato that divided the country, with conservatives having weekly rallies in downtown Seoul urging her release and criticising Moon Jae-in until the COVID-19 pandemic emerged.

A poll by Gallup Korea in November showed 48% of respondents were opposed to pardoning Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, but the numbers have dropped from around 60% early this year.

Kim Mi-jeong, aged 42, a resident of the southern city of Gwangyang, said Park Geun-hye's pardon was timely. Jang Yun-soo, from Hwaseong on South Korea's west coast near Seoul, said her release was politically motivated.

The flag bearer of Moon Jae-in's ruling Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, and People Power's candidate Yoon Suk-yeol are seen neck and neck in recent polls.

Lee Jae-myung said he understood Moon Jae-in's "agony" and respected his decision for national unity, but Park Geun-hye should offer a sincere apology for the scandal.

Yoon Suk-yeol said Park Geun-hye's pardon was welcome albeit late, but did not elaborate on reporters' questions over whether her potential resumption of political activity.

Park Geun-hye's predecessor, also conservative Lee Myung-bak, who is also imprisoned on corruption charges, was not pardoned.