South Korea’s Former President Freed Under Government Pardon After Almost 5 Years in Jail

South Korea's ousted leader Park Geun-hye arrives at a prosecutor's office in Seoul. Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was set free on Friday after serving four years and nine months in prison, following her corruption conviction being pardoned by the government last week.

Park was the first female president of South Korea and the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee. Four years ago, she was impeached and arrested due to a political scandal involving “trustees in politics.”