Prime Minister Han Duck-soo / Yonhap

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday he will ask President Yoon Suk-yeol to pardon Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, who is currently on parole from a prison term for bribery and embezzlement.

Han was responding to a question during a parliamentary interpellation session about whether he has any intention to propose pardons for Lee and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin.

The president is widely expected to grant pardons on the occasion of Aug. 15 Liberation Day. (Yonhap)