Prosecutors say imprisoned former South Korean President Park Geun-hye has requested a temporarily release so she can be treated for health problems her lawyer says are causing "burning" and "cutting" pain.

An official from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday that it will soon review Park's request. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules against speaking to the media.

Park is serving a prison term of more than 30 years after being convicted in a massive corruption scandal that led to her removal from office and arrest in 2017.

South Korean criminal law allows prisoners with serious health problems to be treated at hospitals under the eye of prosecutors before returning to prison after recovery.