Prosecutors Summon Former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok Over Allegations in Appointment of KOSME Chairman

The prosecution investigating the appointment process of former National Assembly member Lee Sang-jik as the chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation during the Moon Jae-in administration has notified former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok to appear for questioning.

According to the legal community on the 11th, the Criminal Division 3 of Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Han Yeon-gyu) notified former Chief of Staff Im on the 9th to appear for questioning as a witness. Former Chief of Staff Im served as the Presidential Chief of Staff from May 2017 to January 2019, during the early period of the Moon Jae-in administration.

Former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 28th, expressing his position on the Democratic Party's decision to exclude him from the primary election (cutoff). Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The prosecution is summoning attendees of an unofficial Blue House meeting held at the end of 2017, including former Senior Secretary for Personnel Affairs Cho Hyun-ok and other Blue House personnel, to verify allegations that Lee, the founder of Eastar Jet and former lawmaker, was designated as chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation during that meeting.

Lee was appointed chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation the following year. In the same year, controversy arose when Seo, the son-in-law of former President Moon, was employed as an executive director at Thai Star Jet, a Thai low-cost airline founded by Lee.

Seo had a background working at a gaming company but lacked practical experience in the aviation industry, which raised concerns about the executive hiring process.

At the time, opposition parties and political circles raised questions about whether the Blue House was involved in Lee’s appointment as chairman and Seo’s hiring at the airline.

On the same day, former Chief of Staff Im posted on his social media, stating, "The prosecution has been harassing former Senior Secretary for Personnel Affairs Cho Hyun-ok, and now it seems they intend to summon Im Jong-seok. I cannot help but ask how long they plan to continue this political revenge investigation."

He also criticized, "It is pitiful to see the prosecution bowing to the current power while conducting dusting-style retaliatory investigations against the previous administration. I hope the political prosecution, which has discarded even the minimum fairness and principles, seriously acknowledges that it has already lost the trust of the people."