The South Korean government has granted a special presidential pardon to former President Lee Myung-bak, effective on Wednesday. He was serving a 17-year prison sentence for corruption.

The government on Tuesday granted pardons to more than 1,300 individuals, including Lee, who led a conservative government for five years until 2013.

President Yoon Suk-yeol said during a Cabinet meeting that he hoped the pardons will serve to unite the country.

The ruling party's lawmakers praised the president's decision and the goal of national unity. But the opposition camp criticized the move, saying it would revive corrupt forces.

Lee was convicted of charges including taking bribes from Samsung Electronics, the core of Samsung Group, South Korea's largest conglomerate. Lee was temporarily released from jail in June this year after his term was suspended due to health reasons. He is 81 years old.

Lee is the fourth former South Korean president to be pardoned. Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo received pardons in 1997, followed by Park Geun-hye in 2021.