Special prosecutor refuses to resign over alleged leak

A special inspector Lee Seok-su, who has looked into a corruption scandal involving a senior presidential secretary, said on Monday that he would not step down from his post over information leak allegations.

Lee, a government-appointed special inspector tasked with probing a civil affairs presidential secretary Woo Byung-woo, also said that he would clear allegations over any leak if there is any prosecutorial questioning.

Local broadcaster MBC reported last Tuesday that Lee exposed details of the investigation into Woo’s case to a local media outlet through a messaging app. Under the law, a special inspector can face a jail term of up to five years for leaking information about the ongoing probe.

To reporters on his way to his office in central Seoul, he said, “Isn’t it the government’s policy that suspicions don’t necessarily lead to resignations?” He refused to comment further on the ongoing investigation into Woo as well as the alleged information leak, saying it was “inappropriate.”

Woo has been under investigation for allegedly misappropriating funds from his family-run company and abusing his status to help his son get assigned to a relatively easy military post during his national service. 

Lee has recommended the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office launch a formal investigation into Woo.

As for Cheong Wa Dae’s remarks over the alleged information leak and its allegedly uncooperative attitude in probing Woo, Lee refused to comment. He said that he had no hard feelings towards Cheong Wa Dae.

Cheong Wa Dae said in a briefing Friday that the alleged information leak “shakes up the foundation of the nation” in an apparent move to lambast Lee.

Cheong Wa Dae did not dismiss the scandal-ridden presidential aide in the latest personnel reshuffle, citing lack of evidence into the suspicions.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)