Democratic Party: "Lee Jong-seop's Departure Abroad, Suspect Evasion... Damage to National Dignity"

Marine Corps Investigation External Pressure Suspicion
Former Defense Minister to Australia
Democrats Accuse "Suspect Evasion"

The Democratic Party is sharply criticizing the appointment and departure of former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, who was investigated by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) over allegations of external pressure on the Marine Corps investigation, as the ambassador to Australia, calling it a "suspect escape."

Former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Kim Byung-joo, the Democratic Party's ranking member of the National Defense Committee, appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" on the 12th and said, "Appointing a key suspect as an ambassador to facilitate an escape under the guise of legality is not only a blow to national dignity but also sounds like the collapse of the rule of law." He added, "I think it is very inappropriate to simply push aside the current Australian ambassador Kim Wan-jung, who has been doing well and is trusted by the Korean community, and appoint former Minister Lee as the new ambassador," and stated, "The position is that (former Minister Lee's) appointment as ambassador to Australia should be withdrawn and he should return to the country."

Regarding the declaration of "all-out war" against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration by Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party floor leader, the day before, he explained, "There were problems with the verification process at the Ministry of Justice, and there were suspicious irregularities in the process of lifting the travel ban on the suspect," and "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was involved in appointing the suspect as an ambassador, and there are many circumstances suggesting that various laws were violated without following proper procedures."

He continued, "It is unacceptable that the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Presidential Office are downplaying and concealing a case and using the position of ambassador as a means to escape from crime," and pointed out, "Because the suspect was protected and helped escape by state institutions, the rule of law is collapsing, and this is a case of national disorder." He also said, "First, it is necessary to examine whether the law was broken, and if it was, I believe it constitutes grounds for impeachment."

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