Liberal parties lash out at ex-President Lee
By Yi Whan-woo
Lee Myung-bak
Former President Lee Myung-bak is drawing a backlash from liberal parties over his protest against the prosecution’s widening investigation into his former aides in line with President Moon Jae-in’s anti-corruption drive.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the center-right People’s Party slammed Lee, Monday, after he disparaged the probe as “political retaliation,” accusing him of being “shameless” and demanding that he apologize.
Speaking before reporters, Sunday, Lee raised concerns over the investigation before leaving for Bahrain, saying “It is not helpful at all for the country’s security affairs and diplomacy.”
Lee was referring to the prosecution’s arrest of Kim Kwan-jin, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, defense minister and National Security Office chief before, during and after he was in office.
Kim is the highest-ranked figure among Lee’s former aides who are allegedly linked to political interference, including the Cyber Warfare Command and National Intelligence Service’s online smear campaigns during the 2012 presidential election.
Lee had remained low-key over the matter before Kim’s arrest, Saturday. His outspoken criticism against Moon’s anti-corruption drive was believed to be a measure to defend Kim, amid suspicions that his former aides took orders from him and therefore he should undergo questioning for possible abuse of power.
“It’s never enough to say the administration of Lee was the originator of corruption,” DPK Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae said during a Supreme Council meeting.
She pointed out that his successor Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office in March over an influence-peddling scandal, was elected in December 2012 amid suspicions that the Lee government conducted the online smear campaigns in favor of her.
“Lee is greatly mistaken and misunderstands if he thinks he can continually cover up criminal abuse of power,” Choo said. “He is trying to make the prosecution’s probe look as if it is politically motivated, but it is rather about restoring justice. He should apologize to the people over allegations of political interference instead of complaining about the anti-corruption drive.”
DPK spokeswoman Kim Hyun held Lee accountable for “the destruction and regression of the country’s democracy” and demanded him to take responsibility accordingly.
People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo accused Lee of being shameless, saying, “His boldness is really something to see.”
The former president reacted angrily to reporters when asked whether he was briefed by his aides about the smear campaigns and told them to not ask any “questions with a lack of common sense.”
In a separate media interview, he also said, “I will no longer tolerate things as this case has crossed the line.”
“It was like a thief turning on a victim with a club considering Lee has dented the country’s reputation and acted against common sense,” Ahn said. “It appears to me as if Lee does not know how to feel shame.”
DPK floor leader Kim Dong-cheol demanded Lee kneel before the people, repent his wrongdoings and offer an apology, while urging the prosecution to carry out its investigation in a fair and objective manner.