'It's political vendetta, not reform'

Former President Lee Myung-bak smiles against a backdrop of protesters at Incheon International Airport, Sunday, demanding a prosecution investigation into his alleged illicit political activity while he was in office. Yonhap

Cornered ex-President refuses to clarify on alleged political meddling via military

By Lee Kyung-min

Former President Lee Myung-bak criticized the ongoing prosecution investigation into alleged illicit political activity sanctioned by his administration, Sunday, saying the country was being further divided due to what he called a “political vendetta.”

Lee refused to clarify whether he was regularly briefed about online activities orchestrated by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the military to shape public opinion to suit his administration’s interest. Lee said, “Do not ask questions that go beyond common sense.”

“I am worried that the social rift will continue to deepen following the six month-investigation under the current administration,” Lee said at Incheon International Airport before he left for Bahrain for a four-day trip to give lecture to government officials there.

The prosecution, Lee added, has treated the state intelligence agency and the military unfairly, further endangering the country’s national security and diplomacy.

“The country, as we all know, has achieved economic development and democracy in a short period of time, which entailed not only positive but also negative aspects. That is why we should not destroy what is positive to rid of what is negative.”

The remarks are considered a move to distract focus amid an intensified investigation into wide ranging corrupt activities while he was in office.

The Seoul Central District Court issued arrest warrants for former Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his deputy Lim Kwan-bin, Friday, increasing the prospect of Lee being questioned.

Kim told the prosecution that under orders from Lee, he increased the number of officials at the Cyber Command unit to 79 shortly before the 2012 Presidential election, a near 10-fold increase from a year earlier.

Of the total, 47 were posted at a psychological warfare unit, members of which allegedly posted comments criticizing then candidate Moon Jae-in, while supporting his conservative opponent Park Geun-hye. Park won the election by a narrow margin.

Kim served as defense minister for nearly four years under both the Lee and Park administrations, and as the National Security Office chief until May.

Meanwhile, Lee’s former chief press secretary Lee Dong-kwan also denied the allegations, saying the former president did not give orders micromanaging the military and the NIS, adding he had more important things to do.

The former secretary said, “We had to hire more workers to fight North Korea’s growing psychological threats. What government in the world would give orders to post online comments? I hope the country maintains its dignity.”

Meanwhile, more than 70,000 people signed an online petition at the Cheong Wa Dae website, asking for a travel ban to be imposed on Lee.

Presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun said “President Moon Jae-in is of the stance that the ongoing investigation does not seek to punish individuals involved, but to fundamentally reform the unfair institutional structure that has long protected the establishment.”