Accused in Connection with the 2022 Local and By-Elections
Special Prosecutor Also Investigates Last Year's Election Involving Former Prosecutor Kim Sangmin
Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, appeared before the Min Jung-gi Special Prosecutor's Office on the 21st to be questioned regarding allegations of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's interference in candidate selection. He stated, "It is an unreasonable attempt to link me as an accomplice with former President Yoon."
Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, appeared as a suspect on the 21st at the Min Jung-gi Special Prosecutor's Office set up at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to be investigated regarding allegations of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's interference in candidate selection. He responded to questions from the press. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Lee arrived at the special prosecutor's office, set up at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, at around 9:48 a.m. This is the first time he has been questioned by the special prosecutor since the investigation officially began on July 2.
Entering the interrogation room, Lee told reporters, "Most people in the country know how former President Yoon treated me in 2022," adding, "Given those circumstances, I think it is extremely unreasonable to try to link me and former President Yoon as accomplices."
When asked whether there had been any unfair candidate nominations, he replied, "What matters is who was responsible for the unfair nominations. For me, as the party leader, to intervene in candidate selection would itself be a contradiction in terms," and added, "There was absolutely no such thing, and if the special prosecutor wants to know anything about someone else (former President Yoon), I will provide the information."
Regarding the allegations of former President Yoon's involvement in candidate selection, Lee said, "I have consistently stated that there were suspicious circumstances at the time, and since these were events I personally experienced, I have faithfully submitted materials to the special prosecutor. However, whether this constitutes a crime is for the legal experts to determine."
The special prosecutor's team plans to question Lee based on a 94-page list of questions prepared by one prosecutor. They intend to confirm the facts regarding allegations of former President Yoon's interference in candidate selection during the June 1, 2022 local elections and the parliamentary by-elections.
Lee has previously claimed that, while he was leader of the People Power Party, there was a recorded phone call indicating that former President Yoon tried to intervene in the nominations for positions such as the mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and the mayor of Pohang. He is also under investigation as a suspect in relation to allegations of interfering with candidate selection (obstruction of work).
The special prosecutor's team also plans to question Lee as a reference regarding allegations that Kim Keon-hee, the former First Lady, exerted influence to have former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sangmin run for the National Assembly in the Changwon Uichang district of South Gyeongsang Province during last year's April 10 parliamentary elections.
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