Ambassador Lee Jong-seop to Voluntarily Return Soon... Likely to Urge Swift Investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office

Attendance at Domestic and International Diplomatic Security-Related Meeting Schedule

Lee Jong-seop, the Ambassador to Australia under investigation for alleged external pressure in the Marine Corps Corporal Chae Sang-byeong death case, is reportedly set to voluntarily return to Korea soon.

According to the Blue House on the 20th, Ambassador Lee will return to attend domestic diplomatic and security-related meetings in the near future.

After returning, Ambassador Lee is expected to express a stance urging the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (PCA) to conduct a swift investigation.

The day before, Ambassador Lee submitted a request to the PCA urging them to set an investigation date, stating, "I will appear for questioning anytime and cooperate actively."

Both the Blue House and Ambassador Lee have stated, "It is very inappropriate for the head of an overseas diplomatic mission to enter the country and wait indefinitely when the PCA is not ready to summon," but also expressed, "We will respond immediately to any summons from the PCA."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

With the controversy over Ambassador Lee's appointment to Australia expanding about 20 days before the general election, voices urging his voluntary return have emerged not only from the opposition but also from the ruling party, which is interpreted as the Blue House changing its stance.

On the same day, Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, at an on-site election countermeasure meeting held in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Hwang Sang-moo, Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Blue House, resigned today, and Ambassador Lee Jong-seop to Australia will return soon. We will respond earnestly to public sentiment with about 20 days left before the general election."

Earlier that day, the Blue House also announced that President Yoon accepted the resignation of Senior Secretary Hwang, who caused controversy with his remarks about a journalist knife attack.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.