Defense research lab illegally helped DP leader in 2022 presidential election: auditor

▲ A photo of Kim Yun-tae, head of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (Yonhap)

defense research lab-DP leader

Defense research lab illegally helped DP leader in 2022 presidential election: auditor

SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- A state defense research institute helped Lee Jae-myung, the then ruling Democratic Party (DP)'s candidate for the 2022 presidential election, devise election pledges in violation of election laws, the state audit agency said Wednesday.

Announcing the outcome of its investigation into the allegation, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) said a former defense ministry official asked Kim Yun-tae, chief of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), to develop defense policies for Lee in an online chat room meeting in March 2021.

The ex-defense official was a member of the campaign team of Lee, who currently heads the main opposition DP.

The BAI said it had requested the Ministry of National Defense to dismiss the chief of KIDA, which is under the ministry's wing.

The BAI also asked the prosecution to look into the case, according to officials.

The BAI's report shows that Kim and some of KIDA's employees allegedly helped Lee's aide come up with defense policies, such as the application of cutting-edge science technologies in defense, in the runup to the 2022 presidential election.

Lee was narrowly defeated in the election by opposition candidate Yoon Suk Yeol, and is expected to run for president again.

The defense ministry said it is taking steps to remove Kim from his position and select a new head for KIDA.

KIDA, however, said in a press release it will take legal steps against the audit agency's move, claiming Kim has not "directly" participated in election pledge development for Lee.

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