청 "Optimus Former CEO's Claim of Attending Vietnam Korean Community Meeting Not True"

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] The Blue House stated on the 10th, "There have been reports linking the former CEO of Optimus with the president's overseas trips," and clarified, "The claim that former CEO Lee Hyuk-jin attended the Korean community meeting during the March 2018 Vietnam trip is completely untrue."

Yoon Jae-kwan, deputy spokesperson of the Blue House, said in a written briefing that "Former CEO Lee was never included in the invitation list for the Korean community meeting held during the Vietnam trip," and "He was also not an official member of the presidential entourage at that time."

He added, "We deeply regret that some parties are raising suspicions based on unverified information, and that certain media outlets are reporting this without filtering."

Optimus Asset Management was involved in a private equity fund investment fraud case worth around 500 billion won. Since the founder, former CEO Lee, is known to be close to influential political figures, suspicions have arisen regarding his activities. The suspicions intensified when a photo believed to have been taken at the Korean community meeting during President Moon's Vietnam and United Arab Emirates (UAE) trips in March 2018, while Lee was under prosecution investigation, was revealed.

The Blue House's explanation on this day was that former CEO Lee was neither an official attendee nor part of the entourage, but questions remain about the background of his presence at the scene and his subsequent whereabouts. It is currently reported that he is staying in the United States.