hankyoreh

Former President Lee Myung-bak arrives at his office in the Gangnam district of Seoul on Sept. 28. (Baek So-ah

Former President Lee Myung-bak said on Sept. 28 that the “regressive attempts being made in the name of ‘clearing away deep-rooted vices’ will never succeed.” His remarks, which come amid the emergence of circumstantial evidence pointing to his involvement in illegal activities by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and other state institutions, were his first response to revelations of political interference by the NIS and Military Cyber Command during his tenure and the threat of an investigation by prosecutors after complaints by “blacklist” victims.

The Facebook message by Lee that afternoon was couched in a well-wishing message for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. “I wish peace and happiness for all of your homes and workplaces,” he wrote – before launching into a criticism of the prosecutors’ investigation of him.

“Many people have been worried about the country these days, and I am one of them,” he wrote, citing difficult economic conditions, the Korean Peninsula security crisis, and the need for popular unity.

“At a time when the security situation is dire and people are struggling due to difficulties with the state of the economy, I have observed the situation currently unfolding around previous administrations in the pursuit of ‘clearing away old vices,’” he wrote.

“Not only are these regressive attempts harmful to the national interest, but they will never succeed,” he continued.

Lee offered no explanation as to whether he ordered or received reports on illegal or questionably legal activities, but said he would “have the opportunity to speak to you, the public, when the time comes.”

Lee’s equation of the recent theme of “clearing away deep rooted vices” with “regression” and “acting against the national interest” echoes the frame used by other conservatives, who have equated it with political retaliation. It could also be interpreted as an attempt to shield himself as more and more hard evidence emerges, painting the prosecutors’ investigation as politicized and questioning the wisdom of “focusing on the past while the security situation and economy are in crisis.”

But with Lee facing an increasing likelihood of having to submit to written questioning – and even standing in a prosecutors’ photo line – he appears to be working with his advisors on a response strategy. Former Blue House Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs Kim Hyo-jae, who served under Lee’s administration, told the Hankyoreh in a telephone interview that Lee “discussed matters several times with advisors before stating his position.”

“He has attempted to mention this several times in the past, but decided not to because it seemed that the public would be very worried and concerned if a former President felt moved to take action,” Kim explained.

Kim went on to say there would be an “additional announcement of former President Lee’s position,” suggesting Lee may come out with a more intense rebuttal as the investigation’s pace picks up.

By Kim Nam-il, staff reporter

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