As a result of SBS coverage, it was confirmed that Lee Jong-seop, a former lieutenant general of the Army, worked as an advisor to a government agency with a monthly salary of several million won and was active in the presidential campaign.
It is being pointed out that he participated in politics from a position no different from a public official, and this candidate received money, but said that there is no problem because he is not a public official legally.
According to the Hearing Preparation Task Force, Candidate Jong-seop Lee served as a research and development advisor for the National Defense Science Research Institute with a monthly salary of 3 million won from December 21, 2020 to March 17, right after the presidential election.
Candidate Lee participated in the 'Defense Forum with the People' in support of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol since June of last year.
Then, after the presidential election, when Defense Minister Hama-pyeong came out, he gave up his advisory position.
Candidate Lee also served as an advisor to the KAIST Global Public Procurement Research Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
According to the Hearing Preparation TF, the monthly salary is 2 million won and the working period is 5 months from August 1 to December 31 last year, so he entered KAIST during the presidential campaign.
The Hearing Preparation TF stated, "The Defense Science Research Institute and KAIST advisors are not public officials, so they have no obligation to be politically neutral."
However, a conflict of interest is raised over the participation of a person who has been receiving remuneration from government agencies and government-funded organizations to provide defense-related advice.