Public attention is squarely focused on who will be put on the list of presidential pardons President Park Geun-hye grants to mark the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.

President Park has so far exercised special presidential pardons on two occasions since she was inaugurated. So far she has maintained the principle that most of the pardons go to low-income earners and SME businessmen, not politicians.

Like previous pardons, President Park is expected to pardon traffic law violators and other low-income people involved in livelihood offenses. Some business tycoons will likely be included, but not politicians, political and business sources said.

Political and business communities picked Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun, and SK Group Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, who was released on parole on July 29 as businessmen who are most likely to be recipients of the upcoming special pardons.

Five candidates for Saenuri Party chairman shared the view that the upcoming pardons should include businessmen.

In a survey of the five candidates running for the Saenuri Party chairmanship conducted recently by the Maeil Business Daily, all five favored leniency for businessmen, citing business uncertainties caused by the sagging Korean economy and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

Rep. Chung Byung-guk, one of the five candidates, said, “Businessmen should not be given special favors, but they should not be discriminated against.” He said presidential special pardons need to be granted on a selective basis for those who repent their crimes; those who have already served a portion of their sentences; and those who can’t serve prison terms due for health problems. In reality, he said, the management vacuum caused by the absence of business leaders could have a big impact on the operation of the groups.

If recipients of the pardons aid in the recovery of the national economy, boosting the livelihoods of low-income people, it would be wise to grant presidential special pardons, he added.

Rep. Joo Ho-young said he was favoring the pardons as a way to encourage corporate activities. But he made it clear that he was opposed to leniency for those who are involved in despicable crimes, but are not related with business activities.

Ailing CJ Chairman Lee may be pardoned. On July 19, the Lee side decided not to appeal a lower court’s ruling to the Supreme Court and submitted to the prosecution a petition to appeal for the suspension of his term, saying that he could no longer stand up for trial due to his deteriorating health condition.

While announcing a decision not to appeal to the Supreme Court, CJ Group released a combined photo showing the worsening health of Chairman Lee, who suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited neurological disease, and suffers from such symptoms as degeneration of the muscles in the feet, lower legs and hands. Explaining the rationale for dropping the appeal, a CJ Group official said legal proceeds need to be suspended due to Chairman Lee’s worsening health, and a petition with the prosecution has been submitted since he could face a life-threatening situation if he is forced to be in prison. He noted that Chairman Lee badly needs medical treatments necessary for his disease.