South Korean Opposition Leader Questioned for 10 Hours in Probe Linked to Former First Lady
Lee Jun-seok, a South Korean opposition leader, was questioned for nearly 10 hours on Dec. 21 by a special counsel over allegations of election meddling tied to former first lady Kim Keon Hee and former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Lee Jun-seok, the leader of South Korea’s minor opposition New Reform Party, underwent nearly 10 hours of questioning on Sunday as part of a special counsel investigation into election meddling allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee appeared before the special counsel team, led by Min Joong-ki, at 10 a.m. in Seoul and left around 7:40 p.m. It was the first time Lee had been summoned for questioning by the team, which was launched in July to investigate a range of corruption allegations surrounding the former first lady.
"I sincerely cooperated with the investigation," Lee told reporters upon leaving. "I also sincerely testified about former President Yoon Suk Yeol."
The Allegations: A Nomination for Polls?
The investigation centers on allegations that Lee, while serving as the leader of the then-ruling People Power Party (PPP), colluded with then-President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife to interfere in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Prosecutors suspect that Yoon and Kim received free opinion polls from a self-proclaimed power broker ahead of the 2022 presidential election. In exchange, they allegedly used their influence to secure the nomination of a specific candidate, former PPP Rep. Kim Young-sun, for the by-elections. Lee has consistently denied the allegations.
"I sincerely cooperated with the investigation. I also sincerely testified about former President Yoon Suk Yeol."
The probe represents a significant development in South Korea's political landscape, drawing in a former president, first lady, and the leader of what was the ruling party at the time. The outcome of the special counsel's investigation could have lasting implications for the figures involved and their respective parties.
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