Lee Responds to Probe

[Anchor Lead]

Former President Lee Myung-bak has blasted the Moon Jae-in administration's efforts to eradicate corruption, saying the current administration is venting its anger and attempting political retaliation. Lee's aides are also stepping in to respond to the ongoing investigation into illegal conduct during the Lee administration.

[Pkg]

Prior to his trip to Bahrain, former President Lee Myung-bak told journalists at the airport that the Moon Jae-in administration's efforts to eradicate deep-rooted evil did not represent reform, but rather political retaliation.

[Soundbite] Lee Myung-bak(Fmr. President) : "Is this about reform? I have a suspicion that it's more about venting anger and attempting political retaliation."

The ex-president emphasized that treating military and intelligence organs in an unfair way would only exacerbate the already grave national security situation. Lee Myung-bak said that Moon's "eradication of deep-rooted evil" will only divide the public and hurt the nation's economic growth, and added that making the country prosper is difficult, whereas destroying it is easy.

[Soundbite] Lee Myung-bak(Fmr. President) : "I believe that this will not help at a time when the Korean economy must seize its chance amid the global economic recovery."

Lee strongly denied the allegation that he had received reports from the Cyber Command on online comments intended to hurt opposition presidential candidates.

[Soundbite] Lee Myung-bak(Fmr. President) : "Don't ask me about things that run counter to common sense."

Lee's close aide, former presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan, said that only 0.45 percent of the online comments in question were recognized by the court as problematic and that efforts to investigate the matter further would only jeopardize national security.