By Jun Ji-hye

President Moon Jae-in has no plans to grant special pardons on the occasion of Liberation Day, Aug. 15, the presidential office said Tuesday.

A Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters it is "physically impossible" to finalize a list of those to be pardoned in advance.

"The justice ministry is in charge of work related to special pardons, and it would take more than three months for it to complete that task," the official said, asking not to be named.

Korean presidents usually grant special pardons as part of celebrations to mark major national holidays including the anniversary of the nation's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese occupation.

President Moon has apparently had limited time to finalize a plan on special pardons as he took office on May 10 following his election in a rare presidential by-election after former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office in March over a massive corruption scandal.

A plan on special pardons is finalized after a Cabinet meeting presided over by the President approves a list of those recommended by relevant ministries.

While in office, Park granted special pardons three times on the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday in 2014 and National Liberation Day in 2015 and 2016.