DP reports Yoon to CIO for false statements about envoy's departure

Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup speaks to the press as he arrives at Incheon International Airport on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) reported President Yoon Suk Yeol and his aides to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on Friday for allegedly falsifying statements regarding the controversial departure of former defense minister and current ambassador to Australia, Lee Jong-sup.

“The presidential office released a statement about the former defense minister’s departure [from Seoul], which contains two false pieces of information,” Rep. Park Ju-min, the DP’s senior vice floor leader, said during a press briefing held at Yeouido, western Seoul.

“The statement said that the CIO approved Lee’s departure — the investigative office said it never did.”

Park also pointed out that the presidential office said it found no issues associated with the former defense minister after going through the accusations from the CIO.

However, the CIO said it did not submit documents or share any information with governmental agencies, including the Justice Ministry, on the allegations under investigation against Lee.

“I wonder how the presidential office went through the complaint,” Park said.

Last week, the DP reported President Yoon, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to the CIO on charges of abusing power and helping a criminal, Lee, abscond by appointing him as ambassador to Australia.

On Friday afternoon, the CIO said that it was not ready to summon Lee due to an incomplete investigation.

"Considering that the investigation team has not completed questioning or going through digital forensics and seized evidence, it is difficult to call Lee in for an investigation," the CIO told local reporters.

The ambassador arrived in Korea the day before to attend major meetings in the country and hoped that the CIO would summon him while he was in the country. Lee is expected to stay in the country possibly through late April.

The office added that it would call the ambassador for an investigation after discussing with Lee's attorney and having internal discussions.

Lee was accused of allegedly trying to block the Marine Corps’ initial inquiry into the death of Lance Corporal Chae Su-geun, who died last July while searching for missing people after heavy rains and flooding swept Korea. Lee is also accused of trying to prevent the case from being transferred to the police.

Lee resigned from his position as defense minister in October last year, just before the DP could pass a motion to impeach him. The CIO has been investigating him since then.

"Evidence shows that the presidential office has been deeply involved with the [Marine Corps] case from the beginning," the DP's senior vice floor leader said.

"Lee should step down [as the ambassador] and be investigated."

The Justice Ministry imposed a travel ban on Lee but lifted it when Yoon appointed him as ambassador to Australia on March 4.

When Lee left the country on March 10, the DP called him a “fugitive ambassador” and accused the presidential office of “helping a suspect flee.”

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]