The lucky pardonees included the bosses of Hyundai Motor, Korea's largest car firm, and SK, a chaebol (conglomerate) with interests in telecoms and energy.

ECONOMIST: Freeing fat-cat felons creates moral hazard, Koreans fear

South Korea's Hyundai Motor has reported a 15% drop in first quarter profit, after being hit by industrial action and the strength of the won.

BBC: Hyundai Motor profits drop 15%

Chung Ju Yung, Hyundai's 83-year-old founder, cannot know whether it was wise to force his brother to give up an 8.3% stake in Hyundai Motor in exchange for 37.7% of Hyundai Industrial Development and Construction, South Korea's largest builder of apartments.

CNN: A NOVICE AT THE WHEEL