A former South Korean defence minister implicated in a corruption investigation over the death of a soldier has arrived in Australia to take up his controversial appointment as ambassador.
Former South Korean defence minister Lee Jong-sup has arrived in Australia to take up his appointment as ambassador despite a corruption probe at home.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials is continuing to examine allegations Mr Lee tampered with a South Korean Marine Corps' inquiry into the death of Lance Corporal Chae Su-geun, who died in July last year during a search mission."President Yoon Suk Yeol the flight of Lee, who was accused of committing a material crime, by giving him the title of a diplomat," DP floor leader Hong Ihk-pyo was quoted as saying over the weekend.
According to South Korean media reports, the Presidential Office and Foreign Ministry claimed to be unaware of the travel ban imposed on Mr Lee in January, who was then able to successfully lobby to the Justice Ministry to revoke it.