Sae Joon Park receives pardon to facilitate return to U.S

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has granted a pardon to Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart veteran who previously self-deported to South Korea to avoid detention and deportation. The pardon erases Park's prior convictions for drug possession and bail jumping, marking a significant step in his effort to return to the United States.

Park, who moved to the U.S. at age seven, had been living in South Korea for the first time in nearly 50 years following a removal order. His case gained national attention during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing in December 2025, where Representative Seth Magaziner advocated for a pathway for Park to return to the country he served.

Governor Hochul included Park among six individuals granted clemency, stating they had “displayed positive changes in their lives and will dedicate themselves to bettering their communities.” Park expressed hope following the decision, stating, “today I have hope that I may finally be able to come home.”