Ex-defense minister's appointment as envoy to Australia draws fire

Diplomacy

Published: 06 Mar. 2024, 15:45 Updated: 06 Mar. 2024, 19:28

Ex-defense minister's appointment as envoy to Australia draws fire

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup speaks to President Yoon Suk Yeol during an Armed Forces Day ceremony at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on Sept. 26, 2023. [NEWS1]

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup's appointment to the position of ambassador to Australia is drawing criticism, as the appointment comes amid ongoing investigations into Lee by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

The Foreign Ministry appointed Lee as the next Korean ambassador to Australia on Monday. This is an unusual move since the appointment of a former defense minister, rather than a career diplomat, to the position of ambassador to a key nation is nearly unprecedented.

Lee is currently being investigated by the CIO for allegedly influencing probes into the death of Lance Corporal Chae Su-geun, who died last July while searching for missing people amid heavy rains and flooding that had swept Korea at the time.

Lee has been accused of allegedly trying to block the Marine Corps’ initial inquiry into Chae’s death and preventing it from being transferred to the police. Lee resigned from his position as defense minister in October last year just before the Democratic Party (DP) could pass a motion to impeach him, and has since been under investigation by the CIO.

Lee’s appointment is interpreted as the Korean government’s willingness to strengthen defense industry cooperation with Australia in light of the recent series of large-scale defense export contracts with the country.

Australia has emerged as the southern axis of the U.S.-led security network in the Indo-Pacific and is especially active in building security cooperation with Korea. In 2021, Australia purchased K-9 self-propelled howitzers and last year, the country signed with Hanwha Aerospace. Most recently, Australia introduced Korean-produced Redback infantry fighting vehicles to its military. Aside from the United States, Australia is the only country with which Korea holds a two-plus-two meeting of foreign and defense ministers.

“We have no comment on the background of Lee’s appointment or the CIO investigation,” the Foreign Ministry said Monday. “We expect Lee to play an important role in overseeing bilateral relations with Australia, with which we share the values of liberal democracy as a country that participated in the Korean War, operating the two-plus-two foreign and defense ministerial council and deepening and expanding cooperation in various fields.”

In response to Lee’s appointment, the CIO is reviewing how to continue its investigations into Lee accordingly.

“The investigation team also became aware of Lee’s appointment after seeing the news of the appointment yesterday,” a CIO spokesperson said Tuesday. “We are reviewing various measures and plans to avoid disruptions in the investigation.”

On Tuesday, DP floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo called Lee’s appointment a “shameful act aimed at interrupting the ongoing probes on the illegalities of the administration."

"It is also a serious diplomatic discourtesy to name a person who resigned in disgrace as an ambassador of a major partner country, damaging Korea's national status," Hong said. "The prosecution and the CIO should impose a travel ban on Lee, and we will deliver our opinion to the Australian government."

The minor party Saemirae Party shared similar concerns about Lee's appointment. “This is the same as President Yoon, who is at the top of the suspects over Chae's death, evacuating a key criminal suspect to a foreign country,” the party said in an issued statement Tuesday. “It is the president's abuse of his rights for self-protection.”

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]