[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been confirmed that the prosecution detected that more than 100 flight attendants were 'illegally hired' at Eastar Jet.
According to the legal community on the 11th, the Criminal Division 3 of Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Chan-hyuk) included this information in the pre-arrest warrant request for Lee Sang-jik, the founder of Eastar Jet and former Democratic Party lawmaker, and Choi Jong-gu, former CEO of Eastar Jet, on charges of obstruction of business.
The prosecution identified that from 2015 to 2019, Lee and others hired more than 100 applicants who scored below the passing mark in document screening and interviews as flight attendants. During this period, about 500 new flight attendants were hired, accounting for approximately 20% of the total.
The prosecution also secured evidence that Lee and others were involved in illegal hiring through political recommendations from politicians and others in 2014 to the first half of 2015, but since the statute of limitations (7 years) had expired, these facts were not included in the arrest warrant charges.
The pre-arrest detention hearing for the two individuals is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 14th. Although the court initially planned to hold the hearing that afternoon, it accepted a postponement request from Choi’s side. The prosecution is expected to argue for the necessity of detention, citing the scale of illegal hiring, concerns over evidence destruction due to their positions, and the need for related investigations such as bribery transactions.
However, Lee denied the allegations to reporters on August 8, stating, "Like public enterprises, 30% of the total workforce is hired as local talent, and recommendations are made during that process," adding, "This was the implementation of government policy, and there was no solicitation."
Separately, Lee was also indicted for embezzlement and breach of trust involving hundreds of billions of won related to Eastar Jet. He was sentenced to six years in prison in the first trial in January and was taken into custody but was later released on bail and is currently undergoing trial without detention. The second trial verdict is scheduled for the 25th of next month.
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