Seoul: The South Korean government on Monday announced plans to grant special pardons to 5,174 people, including conscientious objectors who refused to do military service for religious or personal reasons.
The move, set to go into effect on Tuesday, includes 1,879 conscientious objectors, 267 who have been convicted for breaching election laws, as well as two politicians and a labour activist, Yonhap News Agency quoted the Justice Ministry as saying.
The Ministry said that the special pardons were aimed at relieving the burden of convicts whose livelihoods were affected and helping them successfully return to society. (IANS)
