Former South Korean president Park Geun-hye pardoned for corruption

Moon Jae-in, her successor, has freed Park from 22-year sentence three months ahead of presidential election

South Korea's disgraced former president Park Geun-hye has been pardoned by her successor, Moon Jae-in, in a special amnesty that could influence voters in a presidential election that is just three months away.

Park has been serving a 22-year sentence following her impeachment in 2017 and conviction for corruption and abuse of power, after a scandal that exposed webs of double-dealing between political leaders and conglomerates.