Appointment of ex-defense chief under investigation risks stoking public outrage and damaging ties with Australia
Then-ROK defense minister Lee Jong-sup visits a ROK Marine Corps base, Jan. 21, 2023 | Image: ROK Ministry of National Defense
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s decision to appoint former defense minister Lee Jong-sup as the country’s ambassador to Australia has sparked controversy, as Lee faces an ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in the death of a South Korean marine in July 2023.
As South Korea prepares for its general elections on April 10, Yoon’s move threatens to undermine his administration’s political standing and disrupt the nation’s diplomatic relations with Australia at a critical juncture.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s decision to appoint former defense minister Lee Jong-sup as the country’s ambassador to Australia has sparked controversy, as Lee faces an ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in the death of a South Korean marine in July 2023.
As South Korea prepares for its general elections on April 10, Yoon’s move threatens to undermine his administration’s political standing and disrupt the nation’s diplomatic relations with Australia at a critical juncture.
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