Just Like We Do It here

This will probably free up some investigators to go after someone selling their food stamps:

SEOUL, South Korea — Lee Kun-hee, the former chairman of Samsung who was convicted of embezzlement and tax evasion, was pardoned by President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday. The move drew criticism from civic groups that said it was another example of leniency for South Korean tycoons guilty of serious crimes.

Jo Yong-hak/Reuters

Lee Kun-hee, outside court in 2008, was convicted of embezzlement and tax evasion this year.

The president said he decided to grant a special amnesty to Mr. Lee, who was not imprisoned, so that the businessman could retain his membership at theInternational Olympic Committee and lead a campaign by the South Korean city of PyeongChang to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.