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Lee Jong-sup's ambassadorial journey to Australia stalled by travel ban

Published: 08 Mar. 2024, 11:43 Updated: 08 Mar. 2024, 11:46

LEE SOO-JUNG
[email protected]

Lee Jong-sup, right, former defense minister, shakes hands with a military soldier last September. [DEFENSE MINISTRY]

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, recently named ambassador to Australia but restricted by a travel ban, postponed his departure to Sydney, initially scheduled for Friday.

“Regarding the travel ban imposed on Lee, the Justice Ministry views that Lee will be heading to Australia to attend his public duties, not for personal business or fleeing,” Justice Minister Park Sung-jae told reporters on the same day.

Lee has been investigated by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on allegations of power abuse over a military probe. With the investigation ongoing, the CIO slapped a travel ban on Lee before his new appointment.

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“The ministry will process the complaint [raised by Lee to lift his travel restriction] considering his attendance at investigations,” Park said. “The Justice Ministry will handle the case based on its own standards. As far as I am concerned, decisions and details are not disclosed publicly.”

Park’s remarks appear to greenlight Lee’s departure from Korea.

On Thursday, a Foreign Ministry official said Lee has received a diplomatic passport and is not subject to administrative restrictions preventing him from obtaining it.

“Per customary practices, a newly appointed head of diplomatic missions abroad applies for a diplomatic passport, and the Foreign Ministry issues the passport accordingly,” the official told reporters on the same day.

The official cited the Passport Act, which denotes that authorities can decline applications for passport issuances of those who are indicted on charges of a crime corresponding to a punishment of over two years' imprisonment.

The provision also stipulates that authorities could refuse applications when the person’s indictment or investigation has been suspended after committing a crime corresponding to a punishment of more than three years.

However, the official refrained from elaborating on the “travel ban,” saying “The matter is between Lee and the CIO, thus, there is nothing that the Foreign Ministry could say about it.”

“[Information about] the travel ban imposed on Lee is classified investigative information,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk in Thursday’s briefing in Seoul.

“The ministry is not sharing the date of starting his service customarily,” Lim added.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [[email protected]]