DPK seeks probe against Yoon, foreign and justice ministers over new envoy's departure
Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, now the top envoy to Australia, attends the Cabinet meeting at the governmental complex building in Seoul, Aug. 14, 2023. Yonhap
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday filed a complaint with the anti-corruption investigative body against President Yoon Suk Yeol and the foreign and justice ministers in connection with the controversial departure of the new top envoy to Australia.
Rep. Park Ju-min, the DPK's senior vice floor leader, submitted the complaint against Yoon, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, party officials said.
The DPK accused them of letting Lee Jong-sup, the new ambassador to Canberra, leave the country to take up his top envoy post in Australia despite Lee being a subject in an ongoing investigation into the death of a Marine.
The party claims that Lee's appointment amounts to helping a suspect flee overseas.
Lee, a former defense minister, is suspected of exerting undue influence in the Marines' internal probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died last July during a search mission amid heavy rains.
"Naming an ambassador means appointing a public official who will engage in diplomatic affairs on behalf of the Republic of Korea," the DPK said. "Appointing a key suspect as ambassador and giving him the grounds to leave the country goes against the purpose of giving him that authority."
Earlier in the week, the DPK submitted a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into the presidential office, and the foreign and justice ministries over Lee's departure.
The DPK has vowed to seek the impeachment of the two ministers to hold them responsible for Lee's exit.
The presidential office made it clear Thursday it has no plans to withdraw Lee's appointment.
Lee left the country Sunday to take office as ambassador, two days after an exit ban on him was lifted. (Yonhap)