President Park Geun-hye’s sudden about-face on special pardons raises concerns that she may repeat what she criticized her predecessors for – abusing the presidential clemency in favor of business tycoons and politicians. 

Park, in a meeting with her senior Blue House aides Monday, said that special pardons to be granted on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule would contribute to “national development and integration.”

It makes a sense that special pardons, if exercised in a transparent and fair manner, could help promote national harmony and lift the nation’s spirits, which are obviously at low levels.

But the way talk of the upcoming pardons has unfolded causes concern. First, it seems that including convicted tycoons and business executives in the clemency– which has been taboo in the Park administration – has become a fait accompli.

The first clue comes from the fact that Park mentioned “national development” when she instructed Blue House aides to work out guidelines and candidates for the Aug. 15 special amnesty. You know when one talks about national development, it usually means economic development, for which the roles of corporations are crucial. In short, Park was warming the nation up for the usually unpopular news of convicted magnates walking out of jail.

Senior government officials and ruling party members are already floating the names of those who could benefit from the amnesty, including SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won and Lee Sang-deuk, brother of former president Lee Myung-bak.

There is no reason to oppose granting pardons even to people like Chey and the senior Lee if they are entitled to presidential leniency. There should be no discrimination, as much as there should not be undue favors. 

What makes it worrisome is that an amnesty granted to wrong people – be they dishonest executives or corrupt politicians or relatives of former leaders – would damage national harmony and unity rather than promoting it.

Maintaining prudence in granting special amnesties was one of the rare areas in which Park earned good marks. Living up to her campaign promise that she would not abuse her right to issue pardons, Park has rejected pleas to free convicted tycoons and politicians since taking office in early 2013.

The 5,812 people who benefited from her only amnesty in January last year were all convicted for minor crimes and violations. This distinguishes Park from her predecessors who invoked their right to pardon for inappropriate people whenever they felt it was necessary -- Kim Young-sam granted nine special pardons, Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun eight times each and Lee Myung-bak seven times.

The recent Sung Woan-jong scandal revealed how vulnerable the special pardons are to abuse – prosecutors said the late tycoon-politician could be pardoned twice by Roh, in 2005 and 2007, after bribing the president’s elder brother.

It was none other than Park who criticized the suspicious pardons granted to Sung during the Roh administration. Park should not forget this when she gives her final authorization to the list of amnesty beneficiaries to be put together by government officials. Needless to say, the final list of tycoons and politicians should be very short.