Article 1General pardon, special pardon, commutation of the sentence, remission of execution of the sentence and restoration of rights shall be governed by the provisions of this Act.

Article 2A general pardon shall be granted for the types of crimes so specified by a Cabinet Order.

Article 3Except as otherwise specially provided for by the Cabinet Order of the preceding Article, general pardon shall have the following effect with respect to crimes for which general pardon has been granted:

Article 4A special pardon shall be granted with respect to a specific person against whom a judgment of conviction has been rendered.

Article 5A special pardon shall have the effect of making the rendition of the judgment of conviction ineffective.

Article 6Commutation of the sentence shall be granted to persons against whom a sentence has been rendered with respect to the types of crimes or punishments specified by a Cabinet Order, or with respect to a specific person against whom a sentence has been rendered.

Article 7(1)Commutation of the sentence granted by a Cabinet Order shall reduce the sentence except as otherwise specially provided for by the Cabinet Order.

(2)Commutation of the sentence granted to a specific person shall reduce the sentence or execution of the sentence.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, with respect to a person to whom the judgment of suspension of execution of sentence has been rendered and for whom the period of such suspension has not yet expired, only such reduction as reduces the sentence shall be granted, but at the same time the period of suspension may be shortened.

Article 8Remission of execution of the sentence shall be granted with respect to a specific person against whom a sentence has been rendered; provided however, that it shall not be granted with respect to a person to whom the judgment of suspension of execution of sentence has been rendered but for whom the period of suspension has not yet expired.

Article 9Restoration of rights shall be granted to a person who, owing to a judgment of conviction being rendered, has been deprived of his or her capacity or had it suspended, with necessary conditions being prescribed by a Cabinet Order, or to a specific person; provided however, that it shall not be granted with respect to persons whose execution of the sentence has not yet been completed, or for whom remission of execution of the sentence has not been granted.

Article 10(1)Restoration of rights shall have the effect of restoring capacity.

(2)Restoration of rights may be granted with respect to specific types of capacity.

Article 11The effect already established upon a judgment of conviction being rendered shall not be affected by the granting of a general pardon, special pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of execution of sentence or restoration of rights.

Article 12A special pardon, commutation of sentence with respect to a specific person, remission of execution of sentence or restoration of rights with respect to a specific person shall be granted to persons subject to a recommendation from the National Offenders Rehabilitation Commission.

Article 13When a special pardon, commutation of sentence with respect to a specific person, remission of execution of sentence or restoration of rights with respect to a specific person has been granted, the Minister of Justice shall issue to such person a certificate of special pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of execution of sentence or restoration of rights.

Article 14When a general pardon, special pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of execution of sentence or restoration of rights has been granted, the public prosecutor shall insert added entries to that effect in the original of the judgment.

Article 15Matters necessary for the enforcement of this Act shall be prescribed by a Ministry of Justice ordinance.