At the press conference the organization accused Lee of granting "special amnesty" to his close confidants, businessmen, ultra-rightist elements and family members who had been punished for irregularities and corruption for the past five years of his office.

Not a single prisoner of conscience who had been detained on charges of violation of the "Security Law" was included among those freed by the pardon, it noted, adding: What Lee did deserves condemnation as it can be perpetrated only by a group of gangsters and represents the height of shamelessness.

It urged the authorities to stop suppression of human rights and the labor movement, set free the prisoners of conscience and abolish such evil laws as the "Security Law."