Handonghun: "The Corruption Investigation Office, claiming Lee Jongsup is not ready for investigation, is close to political manipulation"

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) for stating that summoning and investigating Ambassador Lee Jong-seop to Australia would be difficult for the time being, calling it "close to a political operation."

People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon is greeting citizens at the traditional market in Dangjin, Chungnam on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, Chairman Han met with reporters at Seoin Intersection in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, saying, "Ambassador Lee returned to the country fully considering diplomatic issues to comply with public sentiment," and added, "I just heard that (HOCI) is not ready for the investigation. I thought I was mistaken." He continued, "At this point, it is close to a political operation before the general election," and claimed, "Strongly playing to the media on political matters that are not even prepared right before the election is election interference and political maneuvering."

When asked if HOCI might still not be ready for the investigation, he replied, "In that case, they do not issue a statement," and said, "Have you ever seen the prosecution release a statement when the investigation was not ready? I have not." Furthermore, he explained, "This issue has been under investigation since September last year, and (HOCI) even issued a travel ban and stated it could not be lifted," adding, "Suddenly pointing out that (the investigation) is not ready and that they are not confident to summon before the general election is the problem."

On the same day, HOCI announced that summoning and investigating Ambassador Lee would be difficult. HOCI stated, "Considering that the digital forensic and data analysis work on the seized items related to the case has not been completed, and that investigations of witnesses and others have not been sufficiently conducted, summoning and investigation are difficult for the time being," and added, "We will devote maximum effort to the investigation under the given conditions, then review and evaluate the progress of the investigation, and after consulting with the defense counsel, notify the date of the summons and investigation."

Ambassador Lee, who is involved in allegations of external pressure on the investigation of the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae, returned to the country the previous morning to attend a government meeting. He expressed his willingness to undergo HOCI's investigation during his stay.