Presidential Office on Lee Jong-seop's Departure as Ambassador to Australia: "No Investigation Disruption or Obstruction"

This Statement, Travel Ban Lifted Through Coordination with the Corruption Investigation Office
Possible Return Next Month to Attend Overseas Diplomatic Chiefs Meeting

The Presidential Office on the 11th refuted allegations from the opposition that the departure of Ambassador Lee Jong-seop to Australia?who is under investigation by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PACC) over suspected interference in the investigation of Marine Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong's death?would cause disruption or obstruction to the investigation, stating that such claims are unfounded.

A Presidential Office official responded to a reporter's question at the Yongsan Presidential Office that afternoon, asking, "There are many concerns that the ambassador's departure will cause disruption to the investigation. Does the Presidential Office believe there will be no disruption? Could the timing of the appointment have been postponed?" The official answered accordingly.

The official elaborated, "I understand that the ambassador left after promising to 'actively cooperate with the PACC's investigation' and that 'he will come anytime if summoned or if the PACC needs him for investigation.'"

He continued, "Although it was learned belatedly, it turns out that despite the travel ban, he was never summoned for several months after the ban was imposed. It is unreasonable to do nothing simply because he was reported without knowing when he would be summoned or investigated. The PACC has coordinated these matters well, and the travel ban was lifted, allowing him to go to Australia as ambassador," he emphasized.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop is responding to lawmakers' questions during the government questioning session at the National Assembly plenary meeting held on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Former Minister Lee, who became a subject of the PACC investigation over allegations of exerting pressure on the investigation into the Chae Sang-byeong case, was appointed ambassador to Australia on the 4th and filed an objection with the Ministry of Justice on the 5th, requesting the lifting of his travel ban.

He voluntarily appeared at the PACC for questioning on the 7th. The following day, on the 8th, the Ministry of Justice lifted the travel ban on him. The ambassador departed for Australia the previous afternoon.

The opposition parties view the ambassador's departure as an act of 'obstructing the investigation.' Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration appointed former Minister Lee as a 'fugitive ambassador' and allowed him to escape through a loophole. This is a case of hiding a criminal and facilitating overseas escape using state power. The nation's discipline and constitutional order have completely collapsed."

Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, also pointed out, "This is an unprecedented situation where state agencies have mobilized public authority to help a key suspect flee abroad."

The Green Justice Party and the Innovation Party on the same day filed complaints with the PACC against President Yoon Seok-yeol, who appointed the ambassador, and Minister of Justice Park Seong-jae, who accepted the request to lift the travel ban, accusing them of aiding a fugitive and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights. The Innovation Party also filed complaints against Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol and Deputy Minister of Justice Shim Woo-jung.

However, the Ministry of Justice, through a press release to reporters that day, stated, "There have been many inquiries regarding the ambassador's departure, so we are informing you that there was no justification to maintain the travel ban." It added, "Although the travel ban was extended several times after the PACC's complaint was filed in September last year, the ambassador was never summoned even once."

It further explained, "The ambassador voluntarily appeared at the PACC for questioning, voluntarily submitted evidence, and promised to actively appear for further investigations if necessary. Considering that he had received agrement (host country approval) and was in a position to depart, this was taken into account," it added.

Meanwhile, the ambassador is expected to submit a copy of his letter of credence to the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs soon and begin official activities. Having departed without receiving the original letter of credence from President Yoon, it is reported that a plan is being considered for him to temporarily return to Korea during the upcoming Overseas Diplomatic Chiefs Meeting to receive the letter of credence together with other ambassadors.

The Overseas Diplomatic Chiefs Meeting is an event where Korean diplomatic chiefs stationed worldwide return to Seoul and is likely to be held next month. Typically, the original letter of credence is handed over in a ceremony before departure. However, when only a few ambassadors are appointed, it is difficult to schedule a separate ceremony, so it is common for them to depart without the original letter of credence, according to diplomatic authorities.

A Foreign Ministry official told reporters, "When only a few diplomatic chiefs are appointed, the letter of credence is sent separately via diplomatic pouch after their appointment and presented to the host country. Later, a ceremonial letter of credence presentation is held when many new ambassadors gather in Korea." The Foreign Ministry plans to send the original letter of credence for the ambassador to Australia soon via diplomatic pouch.