Prosecutors Ban No Young-min from Leaving the Country over 'Lee Jung-geun Employment Favoritism Allegation'

Noh Young-min, former Chief of Staff at the Blue House Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Former Blue House Chief Secretary No Young-min, who is accused of interfering in the employment process of former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun (indicted in custody), has been banned from leaving the country.

According to the legal community on the 4th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-chul) recently imposed a travel ban on former Chief Secretary No.

Former Chief Secretary No is under investigation by prosecutors on suspicion of exerting pressure to have Lee appointed as a full-time advisor at Korea Integrated Logistics, an affiliate of CJ Group, in 2020 (obstruction of business). After Lee ran as a Democratic Party candidate in the April 2020 21st general election and lost, he served as a full-time advisor at Korea Integrated Logistics from August of the same year for one year, receiving an annual salary of about 100 million won.

Korea Integrated Logistics is a company wholly owned by CJ Logistics. However, since it operates by constructing cargo terminal facilities on land owned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, it is known that, as a customary practice, the Ministry of Land recommends personnel to be appointed as full-time advisors.

The full-time advisor position is usually held by retired officials from the Ministry of Land with experience in logistics policy, so Lee, who was a former broadcast writer without expertise or related experience, was considered an unusual case for being employed with the Ministry of Land’s recommendation.

The prosecution confirmed that after Lee lost the election, he met with former Chief Secretary No and shortly afterward sent a text message saying "Only Chief Secretary’s chance." At that time, Lee was serving as the head of the Democratic Party’s Seocho Gap district committee, which caused a conflict of holding dual positions, so he asked former Chief Secretary No for help and received a reply that "dual positions are possible."

On the 23rd of last month, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Integrated Logistics, and the residence of A, a former Blue House Personnel Secretary, reportedly listing former Chief Secretary No as a suspect in the warrant.