DP moves to launch special investigation into new envoy to Australia

The majority Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday submitted a bill calling for a special counsel probe into the controversial departure of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, who was appointed as Korean ambassador to Australia.

A screencapture of a greetings message posted by new Korean Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup on the embassy’s website Tuesday. [KOREAN EMBASSY IN AUSTRALIA]

The majority Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday submitted a bill calling for a special counsel probe into the controversial departure of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, who was appointed as Korean ambassador to Australia.

On Sunday evening, Lee, a suspect in a corruption probe into the death of a young Marine last year under his watch as defense chief, departed for Australia just two days after a travel ban on him was lifted.

The DP, in turn, claimed that Lee's appointment and departure were tantamount to the Yoon Suk Yeol government helping a suspect flee overseas.

A group of three DP lawmakers led by Rep. Park Ju-min handed over the bill to the National Assembly's legislation committee, calling for a special counsel investigation into the presidential office and the foreign and justice ministries for their suspected involvement in Lee's departure.

The government appointed Lee, a retired Army lieutenant general who served as Yoon's defense minister from May 2022 to last October, as its top envoy to Australia on March 4. It expects his extensive defense experience to boost bilateral and regional security relations in the Indo-Pacific region.

After Lee's departure cast doubt on the prospects of the ongoing probe, the DP declared on Monday it would seek to impeach Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul to hold them accountable.

In a party meeting Tuesday, DP floor leader Hong Ihk-pyo criticized the government for using "diplomacy to interfere with the investigation" and said it is "disrespectful to a friendly country," referring to Australia.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has been looking into allegations that Lee over accusations that he had abused his power, allegedly exercising undue influence on a military investigation into the death of 21-year-old Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died after being swept away in a stream during a search for flooding and monsoon rain victims in July last year.

On Tuesday, the CIO stressed that an "additional investigation is absolutely necessary" into the case, adding that questioning should be conducted in person after summoning.

A CIO official said in a press briefing at the Gwacheon government complex in Gyeonggi that Lee had expressed willingness to cooperate in the probe, addressing the difficulties posed in conducting a questioning in person, and pointed out that diplomats commonly return to their home country for official duties.

"Although there is a physical distance, situations often arise where he will need to enter the country as a diplomat," the official said, adding that the departure is "not a difficult problem."

However, the CIO official indicated discomfort over the Ministry of Justice lifting the travel ban on Lee last week.

The Justice Ministry, as it greenlit Lee's departure, claimed that there was "no justification for maintaining the ban on leaving the country," arguing that the CIO had neither summoned nor investigated Lee since receiving a complaint in September last year.

The presidential office later Tuesday called the DP's bill for a special probe into Lee "wasteful."

"Everyone knows that the CIO investigation was launched because the DP said they could not trust the prosecution, but then they no longer trust the CIO," a presidential official told reporters. "It is a very ironic situation."

Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) likewise said the DP must not abuse special prosecution laws, noting the party's tendency to call for special investigations into a slew of Yoon administration officials, as well as the first lady.

PPP interim chief Han Dong-hoon told reporters Tuesday that the DP's push for a special probe "was for general election purposes," with one month ahead of voting.

Australian media outlet ABC News reported that Lee arrived in Brisbane early Monday despite an ongoing corruption probe at home. It cited sources who said he would soon make his way to Canberra to present his credentials as South Korea's next ambassador.

"Our embassy will play a role in promoting peace and stability in the region, including the denuclearization of North Korea and peace on the Korean Peninsula, and continue the momentum for cooperation in military and defense cooperation," Lee posted in a greeting message on the website of the Korean Embassy to Canberra Tuesday.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]