President Lee Myung-bak made a pick Friday for the independent counsel to lead a special probe into suspicions over his retirement home project, despite strong complaints the main opposition party unilaterally nominated candidates.
Lee appointed former judge Lee Kwang-bum as the special prosecutor to look into persisting suspicions of irregularities over the now-defunct project to build a residence for him to move into after leaving office early next year.
The former judge was one of two candidates, along with civil rights lawyer Kim Hyoung-tae, nominated by the main opposition Democratic United Party earlier this week under the special investigation law. Friday was the deadline for Lee to choose one of them as the independent counsel.
Presidential aides and the ruling Saenuri Party have balked at the nomination of the liberal-leaning candidates, saying the opposition party unilaterally selected them in breach of its promise to consult the ruling party. (Yonhap)