The South Korean ambassador to Australia resigns following a contentious probe

NEW DELHI: Ahead of an important legislative election, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s governing party is under increased pressure after the resignation of South Korea’s ambassador to Australia due to controversy surrounding his nomination during a corruption inquiry.
Only four weeks after accepting the ambassadorship, Lee Jong-sup is under fire for reportedly attempting to sway an inquiry into a marine’s death while holding the position of defence minister.

The foreign ministry released a statement saying, “His resignation was reported to the president and it has been decided it will be accepted.”
The ambassador has denied any wrongdoing and said that he is prepared to assist the inquiry in any way.
When Lee visited Canberra on March 10, opposition party members criticised his appointment, accusing him of trying to avoid being questioned about the matter.
A few members of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) have also voiced their displeasure, saying that Lee was an inappropriate ambassador and that his resignation was a mistake.
When Lee travelled back to Seoul last week for official business, he said he would answer inquiries from the national corruption office that is in charge of the probe.
But the controversy surrounding his appointment and abrupt departure lingered, with some PPP members claiming he was a political liability given the party’s goal of regaining control of parliament in the elections scheduled for April 10.
The anti-corruption organisation is looking into claims Lee made about alleged government meddling in the inquiry into a marine’s death during last year’s flood rescue mission.