South Korean business leaders want Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong to be pardoned and free from all post-prison restrictions. The Samsung leader was sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison and released on parole in August last year, but whether or not President Yoon Suk-yeol will grant a full pardon remains unknown.
Samsung's de-facto leader was sentenced to jail for a bribery case involving former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. After he was sentenced to 2 and a half years of prison time, many South Korean business leaders called for a pardon amid economic worries and the semiconductor crisis.
Lee is now out on parole, which has allowed him to visit Japan recently and strengthen business ties with Samsung's supply chain. But South Korean business leaders are pushing for the de-facto leader to be pardoned on August 15 — the anniversary of Liberation Day. Furthermore, they wish for post-prison restrictions to be lifted. (via The Korea Times)
President Yoon Suk-yeoul's response to the media wasn't very straightforward, or at the very least, didn't clarify whether or not there are any plans for Lee's pardon. The South Korean President said, “[…] it has been a principle to make no mention at all on the issue of pardons […].” In other words, whether or not Lee will be pardoned next month remains to be seen. President Yoon hasn't denied or confirmed anything but is clearly aware of all the requests and might make a special case for Lee.
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