On the 12th, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure operation targeting former Blue House Chief of Staff Noh Young-min and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi. They are suspected of improperly intervening in the employment process of former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun.
The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) dispatched prosecutors and investigators to seven locations, including the residences of former Chief Noh and former Minister Kim, as well as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport offices, to carry out the search and seizure from the morning. This comes about one year and eight months after allegations of preferential employment for Lee surfaced in November 2022.
Former Chief Noh and former Minister Kim are accused of exerting influence over Korea Integrated Logistics through Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport officials to appoint Lee and two other politically connected acquaintances to advisory positions. The prosecution has charged both with obstruction of business.
After losing in the 2020 21st general election, Lee worked as a full-time advisor at Korea Integrated Logistics for one year starting in August of the same year, recommended by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, receiving an annual salary of about 100 million won. Korea Integrated Logistics is a company wholly owned by CJ Logistics, which typically appoints Ministry-recommended personnel with logistics policy experience as full-time advisors. Since Lee, a former broadcast writer with only political experience, was appointed to the advisory position, there were rumors questioning his expertise.
In connection with this, the prosecution reportedly confirmed that Lee met with former Chief Noh immediately after his election loss and sent a text message saying "Only Chief's chance." It is also reported that Lee, who was serving as the Democratic Party's Seocho Gap district committee chairman at the time, asked for help from former Chief Noh and received a response that "dual employment is possible."
Since September 2022, during the investigation into Lee's alleged receipt of illegal funds amounting to billions of won, the prosecution detected signs that former Chief Noh was involved in Lee's employment at Korea Integrated Logistics and has been conducting investigations. Recently, they summoned and questioned Korea Integrated Logistics officials and a former CEO. A summons for former Chief Noh and former Minister Kim is expected soon.
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