Former Foreign Minister Park Jin and Former Vice Minister of Justice Lee Nogong Summoned for Questioning Over Lee's "Fleeing the Country" Allegations
Former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop is appearing as a suspect at the Special Prosecutor's Office for Corporal Chae, located in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd.
The special prosecutor team led by Lee Myunghyun, which is investigating allegations of external pressure and cover-up in the Corporal Chae case, summoned former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop as a suspect for the first time on the 23rd. This marks the first time Lee has been summoned as a suspect, 83 days after the special prosecutor team launched its investigation.
Arriving at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho District, Seoul, at around 9:53 a.m. on this day, former Minister Lee responded to questions such as, "Would you have reversed the initial investigation approval even if former President Yoon Sukyeol had not expressed anger?" and "Do you think you gave unjust orders to your subordinates?" by stating, "I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation."
Lee was the Minister of National Defense at the time of Corporal Chae's death in July 2023. It was revealed that he reversed the Marine Corps investigation team's initial approval immediately after a phone call with former President Yoon, making him a key figure in clarifying the so-called "VIP rage theory" and allegations of external pressure on the investigation. In July of this year, Lee already admitted in a written statement to the special prosecutor team that he received a phone call from former President Yoon regarding the Corporal Chae case immediately after the "VIP rage" meeting.
Initially, Lee was listed as a prime suspect in the allegations of external pressure on the Corporal Chae case and was under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. However, former President Yoon appointed Lee as ambassador to Australia, effectively allowing him to leave the country under suspicious circumstances.
On the 17th, Lee was summoned as a witness regarding suspicions of "fleeing to Australia" and testified that it was former President Yoon who first suggested the ambassador or special envoy position. Since Lee himself is the subject of the alleged escape, the special prosecutor team could not charge him with aiding and abetting a fugitive, and therefore questioned him as a witness regarding this matter.
Additionally, on this day, the special prosecutor team summoned former Foreign Minister Park Jin as a witness to investigate suspicions that Lee left the country to avoid investigation. Arriving at the special prosecutor's office at around 10:44 a.m., Park stated, "I will answer sincerely to the best of my knowledge." Park served as Foreign Minister until January of last year. The special prosecutor team is expected to focus on whether Park received reports or gave instructions during the process of appointing and vetting Lee for the ambassador to Australia position.
Furthermore, the special prosecutor team also summoned former Vice Minister of Justice Lee Nogong as a suspect on charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive and abuse of authority. Arriving at around 10:28 a.m., Lee responded to questions such as, "Why did you deliver the documents lifting the travel ban to former Minister Lee?" and "Did former Minister Lee ask about how to file an objection to the travel ban?" by saying, "I have already explained this to the media. I will cooperate faithfully with the investigation." The special prosecutor team suspects that Lee, who resigned as vice minister in January of last year, sent the travel ban lift application form to former Minister Lee via messenger in March of the same year.
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