Seoul, Dec 21 (NationPress) The leader of South Korea's Reform Party, Lee Jun-seok, was subjected to nearly 10 hours of interrogation on Sunday by a special counsel team regarding allegations of election meddling associated with former First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

Lee reported to a team directed by special counsel Min Joong-ki at 10 a.m. and departed around 7:40 p.m. This team was established in July to probe into corruption and other claims involving the former First Lady, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

Upon his exit, Lee stated, "I have cooperated fully with the investigation," and mentioned that he provided a comprehensive testimony regarding former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

This marked Lee's first interaction with the special counsel.

The investigation is scrutinizing allegations that Lee conspired with former President Yoon and his spouse, Kim, to influence candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. At that time, Lee was the head of the then-ruling People Power Party (PPP).

Yoon and Kim are under suspicion for having accepted complimentary opinion polls from self-styled power broker Myung Tae-kyun before the 2022 presidential election in exchange for nominating former PPP Rep. Kim Young-sun as a candidate for the by-elections.

Lee has refuted these allegations.

On the preceding Saturday, former President Yoon faced over eight hours of questioning by the special counsel concerning corruption accusations related to his wife.

This interrogation was the first for the imprisoned former President before special counsel Min's team, launched in July to investigate corruption and allegations surrounding Kim.

Yoon is purported to have acted as an accomplice to his wife when she allegedly received opinion polls valued at 270 million won (approximately US$183,000) for free from a self-proclaimed power broker and also accepted a painting worth 140 million won from a former prosecutor.

He is additionally suspected of violating the Public Official Election Act for allegedly making a false statement regarding his wife during a debate in 2021 while he was a presidential candidate.

Min's team is also probing Yoon's possible involvement in Kim's alleged acceptance of luxury gifts from various individuals, including Lee Bae-yong, former head of the National Education Commission, in exchange for favors.

According to his lawyers, Yoon has denied all charges against him.

When asked earlier by reporters if Yoon was aware of Kim's acceptance of luxury gifts, his lawyer stated that the former President was "completely unaware."

Saturday's questioning is likely to be Yoon's final interaction with Min's team, as the special counsel investigation is set to conclude on December 28.