President Lee Myung-bak is likely to grant special pardons to some 1,000 convicted criminals next week at the earliest, officials at the presidential office said Wednesday.

South Korea’s president is empowered to pardon convicts if it is believed that a pardon would be helpful to social unity and reconciliation.

The list of special pardons on the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday that falls on Jan. 23, will be released on Jan. 10 at the earliest, they said. South Korea’s president usually grants special pardons in commemoration of major national holidays.

The officials said high-profile businessmen and politicians may not be on the list of the special amnesty, they said.

President Lee has announced presidential pardons five times. (Yonhap News)