News that President Lee Myung-bak is reviewing the possibility of a special pardon at the end of his term is stirring controversy. Despite its cause--harmony--the move is likely to abuse the president's right to pardon and end up as leniency favorable to his close associates.

Cheongwadae decided on a special pardon at the end of the president's term and is currently reviewing the target and the specific time. On December 9, a Cheongwadae official said they were reviewing a possible pardon based on the requests from the religious and business circles.

He said it was a special pardon seeking social integration. Yet on the possibility of the president's close aides such as Choi Si-joong, former head of the Korea Communications Commission being included in those subject to the pardon the official said, "We're not at a position to say who will and will not be pardoned." Cheongwadae took a step back, but did not leave out the possibility.

Cheongwadae seems to be observing the general opinion after making public the possibility of a pardon. On December 7, Yim Tae-hee, former Chief of Staff said, "President Lee's special pardon is a move toward a grand harmony and can be reviewed in a positive light," paving the road for the recent announcement in line with these intentions. It's a kind of pre-measure to observe the public reaction.

However, if the president seeks to realize grand unity through this pardon, this is something he should leave in the hands of president-elect Park Geun-hye, soon to be inaugurated, and not something he should carry out himself at the end of his term amid this controversy.

In other words, a special pardon for harmony and celebration is the work of the new government. The fact that the outgoing president intends to carry out a special pardon under this situation only raises suspicions that he may be hiding his true intention, which is to save his corrupt aides.

Former President Kim Young-sam pardoned Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo in 1997. Former President Kim Dae-jung pardoned Chung Tae-soo, former chairman of Hanbo Group in 2002.

Former President Roh Moo-hyun pardoned Lim Dong-won, former director of the National Intelligence Service and Choi Do-sul, former Cheongwadae secretary for administration in 2007. These precedents show that the president's pardon at the end of his term was usually abused to help close aides or to repay a favor, their support.

Furthermore, if President Lee goes through with this pardon, it will be the seventh pardon during his term in office. He will not be able to escape criticism for abusing the right to pardon and he will be breaking the promise he made to maintain a zero-tolerance principle for corruption during his term.

During the presidential election, Park Geun-hye also pointed out problems in abusing the right to pardon and pledged improvements in the system. In her campaign pledge, she included the words, "I will strictly restrict the right to pardon when it comes to serious crimes committed by the CEO and controlling shareholder of conglomerates."

It looks like Park will not be putting the brakes on the pardon for the time being. However, she has clearly stated that the president's close aides should not be included in those to be pardoned.

One of Park's aides said, "We can't say anything about a pardon for the grand unity of the people, but if close aides are included, it will put a burden on us. Even if we did not know anything about it, we will have abetted the pardon of close aides." If this measure ends up as a pardon of close aides, conflicts between the old and new governments may be expected.

Eventually, the key issue in this special pardon will be whether or not the close aides of the Lee Myung-bak government will be included in the list of people to be pardoned.