South Korea's newly appointed ambassador to Australia, Lee Jong-sup, has resigned after facing a corruption probe in his home country. Lee was appointed on March 4th, but was forced to return to South Korea on March 22nd due to an investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials.
The investigation stems from allegations that Lee interfered with a probe into the drowning of a South Korean soldier. Opposition MPs accused the government of sending Lee to Australia to shield him from facing justice, sparking controversy ahead of parliamentary elections in April.
Lee's resignation was confirmed by the South Korean Foreign Ministry on Friday. The ministry stated that Lee's resignation had been reported to the president and accepted.
The appointment of Lee as ambassador was met with criticism from the main opposition Democratic Party, who claimed it was an attempt to help a suspected criminal avoid investigation. The controversy has been seen as an embarrassment to the government and President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is a former prosecutor.
The investigation into the soldier's drowning revealed that he was not equipped with a life jacket during a search and rescue operation. Military investigator Colonel Park Jung-hun recommended that eight officers be charged with professional negligence leading to manslaughter. However, it is alleged that Lee pressured authorities to withhold the findings.
Upon his return to South Korea, Lee stated that he would make himself available for questioning. The ABC has confirmed that Lee had not yet presented his credentials to Australia's governor-general.