Lee Jong-bae, a Seoul city council member from the People Power Party who raised suspicions of a 'luxury trip to India Taj Mahal' involving former President Moon Jae-in's wife Kim Jung-sook, appeared at the prosecution on the 19th as a complainant and is being investigated.
People Power Party's Seoul City Councilor Lee Jong-bae is appearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 19th to undergo an accuser investigation regarding the suspicion of First Lady Kim Jung-sook's overseas trip to India being a pleasure trip. (Photo by Yonhap News)
The Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jo Ah-ra) is summoning and investigating Councilman Lee this morning. Last December, Lee filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against Mrs. Kim on charges including abuse of authority, obstruction of the exercise of rights, and loss of state funds under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
On his way to the summons, Lee told reporters, "Mrs. Kim's visit to India involved using the presidential aircraft for the purpose of traveling to the Taj Mahal, squandering 400 million won of taxpayers' money, which is a serious national scandal and clearly constitutes loss of state funds, embezzlement, and abuse of authority." He added, "Given the gravity of the matter and the clear charges, I urge for an arrest investigation and request that the accused Kim Jung-sook be severely punished through a thorough investigation."
Regarding this, former President Moon mentioned in his dialogue-style memoir "From the Margins to the Center," published last month, that "the Indian side invited me to send my wife (instead of me)" and referred to it as "(my spouse's) first solo diplomatic mission." It is explained that Mrs. Kim's visit to India was an official diplomatic activity at the invitation of the Indian government.
Meanwhile, Councilman Lee's complaint is also known to include suspicions beyond the luxury trip, such as allegations of receiving luxury jackets and swimming lessons from Blue House security personnel. Related investigations are expected to be conducted at the prosecution on the same day.
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