SEOUL ¨C South Korea¡¯s President Moon Jae-in granted a pardon to former President Park Geun-hye, who is in prison after being convicted of corruption, the Justice Ministry said on Friday, amid a tight presidential race.

Park, 69, became South Korea¡¯s first democratically elected leader to be thrown out of office when the Constitutional Court upheld a parliament vote in 2017 to impeach her over a scandal that also landed the heads of two conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics, in jail.

She was brought down after being found guilty of colluding with a confidante to receive tens of billions of won from major conglomerates to help her family and fund nonprofit foundations she owned.

¡°We must overcome the pain of the past and move forward into the new era,¡± said Moon, who was propelled into power in 2017 following public backlash against Park and her conservative party. ¡°Considering the many challenges we face, national unity and humble inclusiveness are more urgent than anything else.¡±

Moon said Park¡¯s deteriorating health after serving almost five years in jail was also a factor in the decision to pardon her.

In January, South Korea¡¯s top court upheld a 20-year prison sentence for Park on the graft charges that finalized her downfall, bringing an end to the legal process and for the first time raising the possibility of a pardon.

But Park¡¯s predecessor, Lee Myung-bak, who is also imprisoned on corruption charges, was not pardoned.

¡°We¡¯ve included former President Park to overcome unfortunate past history, realize people¡¯s unity and provide a chance to take a new step forward to the future,¡± Justice Minister Park Beom-Kye told a briefing.

The decision came as many supporters and politicians of the conservative main opposition People Power Party have been calling for Park¡¯s pardon ahead of the March presidential election.

The flag bearer of Moon¡¯s ruling Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, and People Power¡¯s candidate Yoon Suk-yeol are neck and neck in recent opinion polls.

Opposition lawmakers have said that Park has experienced health problems while in prison, including undergoing shoulder surgery.