Envoy to Australia set to return to Korea as rift emerges between president and PPP

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, the controversial newly appointed ambassador to Australia, is poised to voluntarily return to Korea soon amid an ongoing investigation into the death of a young Marine last year.

People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon, right, speaks at an election committee meeting at Anyang, Gyoenggi, on Wednesday morning. [NEWS1]

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, the controversial newly appointed ambassador to Australia, is poised to voluntarily return to Korea soon amid an ongoing investigation into the death of a young Marine last year.

People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon confirmed that Lee will return to Korea in an election committee on Wednesday.

"Hwang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social agenda, resigned today, and Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup will return to Korea soon," Han said during the meeting in Anyang, Gyeonggi. "We will ardently respond to public sentiment with the general election taking place in about 20 days."

This comes as presidential officials said Wednesday that Lee is expected to return to Korea for a diplomatic and defense-related meeting.

A meeting of heads of overseas missions in countries involved with major defense industry cooperation will be held in Seoul on Monday. The meeting will be jointly hosted by the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Trade Ministry and will discuss local circumstances, market conditions, export order conditions and policy support measures.

Korean ambassadors to six countries — Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Qatar and Poland — are expected to attend.

Han has been calling for both Hwang's resignation and Lee's return to Korea, indicating a growing rift between the PPP chief and the government ahead of the April 10 general election. The backlash over Hwang and Lee both could reflect poorly on voter sentiment.

Earlier Wednesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted the resignation of Hwang, who came under fire for making intimidating remarks to reporters last week about a 1988 attack on a journalist led by the military intelligence command.

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, recently appointed as ambassador to Australia, takes part in a meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Sept. 18, 2023. [NEWS1]

Lee, who served as President Yoon Suk Yeol's first defense minister from May 2022 to October 2023, was appointed Korea's ambassador to Australia last month.

He assumed the post in Canberra on March 12 despite domestic backlash, as Lee had been undergoing a probe by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

During his time as defense chief, Lee was accused of abusing power by 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.

Earlier this month, Lee left for Australia after the Justice Ministry lifted a travel ban on him despite the CIO probe, a move the liberal Democratic Party (DP) said was tantamount to a suspect fleeing the country.

Members of the PPP have also questioned Lee's departure.

On Sunday, Han told reporters that he believed the law authorities should summon Lee and that the ambassador "should return to Korea immediately" for the CIO investigation, a departure from the Yoon government's stance.

However, the presidential office on Monday said "there was no problem at all" regarding Lee's appointment and departure, adding that "it is highly inappropriate for the head of an overseas mission to return home and wait indefinitely without a summons."

It said that Lee was ready to "immediately respond at any time to a subpoena request."

Han, a former justice minister and a junior prosecutor known as a close confidant to Yoon, has taken stances contrary to the presidential office in recent weeks. This comes amid reports that Yoon has been displeased with the PPP's nomination process for the election next month.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon visit the site of a fire at a traditional market for marine products in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong, on Jan. 23. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

In January, tensions ran high between Han and the presidential office over the former justice minister's handling of allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee accepted a luxury bag from a pastor and election nominations.

Yoon and Han had a public reconciliation attending an event to check on the site of a fire at a traditional market in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong, on Jan. 23.

However, the clash over the fates of Lee and Hwang has been seen as a second round in the war of nerves between the president and the PPP leader.

Officials have not confirmed Lee's exact return date, but considering next Monday's diplomatic meeting, he is expected to arrive in the country later this week. Following the Justice Ministry's decision to lift a travel ban on Lee, he departed for Australia on March 10. His return would come in around two weeks.

After returning to Seoul, Lee is expected to urge the CIO to conduct a speedy investigation.

On Tuesday, Lee reportedly requested the CIO set an investigation date, saying he would "appear at any time" and "actively cooperate with the investigation."

DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung, in an election committee meeting Wednesday, called on President Yoon to "immediately withdraw the appointment of former Minister Lee Jong-sup as ambassador and summon him back to Korea."

He claimed that the Yoon government is "not concerned about the sacrifice of soldiers and is only focused on blocking the truth," regarding the ongoing probe on Lee's alleged involvement in the Marine's death.

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