(ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Less than a month after his appointment, South Korea’s ambassador to Australia, Lee Jong-sup, has resigned from his post.
The resignation comes amid controversy involving the former minister of national defense, who accepted the ambassadorship while still under investigation for the death of a marine in July last year.
Corporal Chae Su-geun, aged twenty, died during a search and rescue operation in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, when he was swept away by an overflowing stream amid record heavy rainfall on July 19.
Criticism arose over allegations that Chae’s superiors had compelled him to proceed with a risky operation without adequate safety measures.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials had been investigating claims that Lee had used his influence to delay the results of an internal probe by the Marines into Chae’s death.
Despite a travel ban imposed by the CIO, which was lifted by the Justice Ministry on March 8, Lee has now stepped down from his position.
The disgraced ambassador said in a statement released to the press that he submitted his letter of resignation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on Friday.
In the statement, he said he has been asking the CIO, which is handling the case, for a “swift investigation into the matters.”
He said he would stay in Seoul and “respond to the remainder of the procedures diligently.”
“To that end, I have written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express my intention to resign as ambassador to Australia. I ask the ministry to accept my offer to resign.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol’s appointment of Lee as the top envoy to Australia has been cited by political observers in Korea as a major reason behind the ruling People Power Party’s plunging ratings.
Polls in the last two weeks have showed the People Power Party lost its lead over its rival, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, falling behind in districts that are traditionally conservative strongholds.
