▲ Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup (Yonhap)

ex-defense minister-probe

Ex-defense chief acknowledges controversial call with ex-President Yoon

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup has admitted to receiving a phone call from former President Yoon Suk Yeol in July 2023 prior to his suspected interference in the military's investigation into the death of a young Marine in a statement of opinion recently sent to Special Prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyeon's team, his lawyers said Monday.

They said in a press release that it is true that the former defense minister received a phone call from former President Yoon at 11:50 a.m. on July 31, 2023, and Yoon expressed concern about the military in connection with the military's initial probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died while searching for torrential rain victims earlier that month.

Following the call that lasted 2 minutes and 48 seconds, Lee allegedly called former Marine Corps Commandant Kim Kye-hwan to intervene in the military's investigation.

The special counsel team suspects that Yoon vented his anger during a meeting of senior presidential secretaries earlier that day and took issue with the results of the military's investigation that called for the punishment of a Marine division commander over the death of Chae.

But Lee denied allegations of Yoon's resentment and interference in the military investigation, according to his lawyers.

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