Prosecutors Seek Arrest Warrant for Lee Sang-jik Over Alleged Irregular Hiring at Eastar Jet

Lee Sang-jik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is entering the press conference room on the 24th at the National Assembly to express his position regarding the Eastar Jet incident. Lee, the founder of Eastar Jet, took responsibility for the mass layoffs and left the Democratic Party. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating the allegations of 'Eastar Jet flight attendants' fraudulent hiring' has requested an arrest warrant for former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-jik.

The Criminal Division 3 of Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Chan-hyuk) announced on the 7th that it has requested a pre-arrest warrant for former lawmaker Lee and former Eastar Jet CEO Choi Jong-gu on charges of hiring corruption (obstruction of business).

Former lawmaker Lee is suspected of receiving bribes in exchange for recommending certain applicants to the HR team during the flight attendant hiring process from 2014 to 2015, along with former Eastar Jet CEO Choi Jong-gu, resulting in the hiring of applicants who did not meet the hiring criteria.

Last year, the civic group Judicial Examination Preparation Students Association (Sajunmo) filed a complaint against former lawmaker Lee and others with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office received the case from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and has been reinvestigating it. Previously, in August, the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office conducted a search and seizure of Eastar Jet's office as well as the residences of former lawmaker Lee and former CEO Choi.

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Lee is undergoing a second trial on charges of breach of trust and embezzlement related to Eastar Jet. He was sentenced to six years in prison and detained in the first trial but was released on bail on June 30 and is currently standing trial without detention.