Lee Jae-yong and Shin Dong-bin Pardon Inquiry, Han Duck-soo Responds "I Will Make a Recommendation"

Asked if he would make a proposal to the President
He refrains from commenting on tax support for the semiconductor industry

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended the Education, Social, and Cultural Questions to the Government session held at the National Assembly on the 27th and responded to lawmakers' questions. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 27th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated that he would "recommend" a pardon to the President for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin.

During the government's question session on education, society, and culture, People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-joong asked, "The world is in a semiconductor war. The supreme commander should take charge and lead, but our country’s supreme commander is quite restrained." He then asked if the Prime Minister would recommend a pardon for business leaders to the President, to which Han responded affirmatively.

Prime Minister Han was reserved regarding tax benefits for supporting the semiconductor industry. On the same day, lawmaker Park pointed out, "Competing countries provide national subsidies, tax credits, workforce supply, and various supports, but South Korea has low tax credit rates, insufficient support for infrastructure such as electricity and water, and workforce supply, making the future of semiconductors very uncertain." In response, Han acknowledged that current government support measures are insufficient but said, "While semiconductor competitiveness requires such measures, realistically, a major challenge for our country is to normalize fiscal soundness. Therefore, we will comprehensively review tax revenue stability and semiconductor trends."

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