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Interest is drawing attention to whether President Moon Jae-in, who is about to retire, will issue a special amnesty at the end of his term.
It is of interest whether former President Lee Myung-bak, former lawmaker Lee Seok-ki, former professor Jeong Gyeong-shim, and vice-chairman Lee Jae-yong will be included.
Reporter Jun-mo Moon reports.
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President Moon Jae-in said in response to the petition against former President Lee Myung-bak's pardon, saying, "There are many people who oppose the amnesty like the petitioner."
[President Moon Jae-in: I still have no choice but to answer in principle.
I will make a judgment by carefully examining judicial justice and public consensus.]
Recently, the Blue House received a request for pardon for Lee Seok-ki, a former United Progressive Party member, and Jeong Kyung-shim, a former professor at Dongyang University, and Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, through the business world. It explains that the former president's pardon is a key factor in the implementation of the special amnesty on Buddha's birthday.
It is said that other requests can be released only when the former president's pardon is decided.
In the political arena, there is also an observation that the amnesty of former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who has been mentioned as a 'package' in the former president's amnesty, will be a variable.
It is also known that the wife of former governor Kim recently requested pardon for her husband through key figures attending her Jogye Order event.
A high-ranking official at the Blue House said, "The president is thinking about it. He can think about it for a day or two more."
In order to obtain a special amnesty during the term of office, the Ministry of Justice's amnesty review committee and the Cabinet meeting must be held one after another during the next week, so a conclusion is expected by the beginning of next week at the latest.