Former judge Lee Kwang-bum and his special investigation team will launch an investigation this week into suspicions over a canceled plan to build President Lee Myung-bak’s retirement home.

The investigation centering on his son and aides is expected to become a key battleground for the December presidential election and accelerate the president’s fall into lame-duck status. 

The probe will last 30 days, with a 15-day extension upon request.

The progressive lawyer was appointed Oct, 5 after being nominated by the main opposition Democratic United Party.

He was a member of a progressive fraternity conducting research on Korean law.

The president initially refused to accept the opposition-nominated candidates ― Lee and civil rights lawyer Kim Hyoung-tae.

But facing increasing pressure from the DUP, Lee earlier this month appointed the special prosecutor to look into his case.

The scandal centers on Lee’s son Si-hyung and his aides, who last year jointly bought some 460 square meters of land in Naegok-dong on the southern edge of Seoul to build a retirement home and facilities for his security personnel.

They had been accused of violating real estate laws and misappropriating taxpayers’ money.

The presidential office initially denied any wrongdoing. Lee later scrapped the project, however, and prosecutors cleared his son of charges in June.

However the investigation team deals with the president Lee cooperates in the investigation, it will surely be one of toughest months for him so far.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)