Lee Bae-yong Again Fails to Appear for Special Prosecutor’s Questioning over Bribery-for-Position Allegations

[The Financial News] Lee Bae-yong, former Chairperson of the National Education Commission, who is under suspicion of selling government positions, has once again failed to comply with a summons for questioning by the Special Prosecutor Team led by Min Joong-ki, which is investigating Kim Keon Hee.
The Special Prosecutor Team announced that Lee, who was scheduled to appear for questioning on the 20th, informed them through her attorney that she would not attend due to health reasons.
The Special Prosecutor Team had initially planned to question Lee on the 13th, but she declined to appear, again citing health concerns, prompting the team to reschedule.
During a search of a nursing home previously operated by Choi Eun-soon, mother of Kim Keon Hee, in connection with alleged preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District, the Special Prosecutor Team reportedly discovered evidence suggesting that Lee had given jewelry to Kim Keon Hee’s side. Investigators found a letter along with a gold turtle during the search, and after a preliminary inquiry, they launched a full investigation.
The Special Prosecutor Team suspects that Lee Bae-yong gave jewelry to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife in exchange for her appointment as Chairperson of the National Education Commission, a case referred to as the 'bribery-for-position' scandal. After these allegations surfaced, Lee announced her intention to resign on the 1st of last month.

theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter