Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at CJ Affiliate over Alleged Employment Favoritism Involving Noh Young-min

Former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun Involved in Korean Integrated Logistics Employment Interference
Investigation Team Detects Involvement of Multiple Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers... Investigation Expands

No Young-min, Chief Secretary to the Blue House, attended the National Assembly's Steering Committee meeting held on the 4th to respond to the National Assembly's audit of the Blue House and answered questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution has launched a forced investigation into allegations that former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun (indicted in custody) was aided by former Blue House Chief Secretary Noh Young-min in securing employment at Korea Integrated Logistics.

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-chul) is conducting raids on the offices of Korea Integrated Logistics, a subsidiary of CJ, and the residences of related parties on the afternoon of the 23rd.

Former Deputy Secretary-General Lee worked as a full-time advisor at Korea Integrated Logistics for about a year starting in 2020. After losing in the 21st general election, Lee was employed at the company through a recommendation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and allegations have been raised that former Chief Secretary Noh was involved in this process.

Earlier, the prosecution had indicted former Deputy Secretary-General Lee in custody on charges of receiving 940 million won over dozens of occasions from businessman Park, under the pretext of facilitating the allocation of government energy funds worth 10 billion won from December 2019 to January 2022, mask business permits and public institution supplies, and promotions of executives at Korea Southern Power.

Lee served as the head of Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign headquarters during the 19th presidential election and as deputy head of Lee Jae-myung’s campaign headquarters during the 20th presidential election. He also ran as the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul Seocho-gap in the 2016 and 2020 general elections and the March by-election this year.

During the investigation of former Deputy Secretary-General Lee, the prosecution identified circumstances linking politicians from both ruling and opposition parties to Lee and others, and is expanding the investigation. While investigating Lee, the prosecution uncovered evidence that Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae received tens of millions of won from Park, leading to a search of Noh’s National Assembly office and his constituency office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and the imposition of a travel ban on the lawmaker.

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