Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at CJ Affiliates and Ministry of Land over ‘Noh Young-min Employment Favoritism Allegation’ (Comprehensive)

Former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun's Involvement in Korean Integrated Logistics Employment
Investigation Team Detects Evidence Involving Multiple Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers... Investigation Expands

Noh Young-min, Chief Secretary of the Blue House./Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

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

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-chul) conducted a search and seizure on the afternoon of the 23rd at the office of Korea Complex Logistics, a CJ subsidiary located in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, as well as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the office and residence of Mr. A, a former staff member of the Blue House Personnel Secretary's Office suspected of involvement in recruitment solicitation.

Former Deputy Secretary-General Lee worked as a full-time advisor at Korea Complex Logistics for about one year starting in 2020. After losing in the 21st general election, he was employed at the company through a recommendation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, amid allegations that former Chief Secretary Noh intervened in the 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 government energy fund allocations 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.

Former Deputy Secretary-General 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 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties to him and has expanded the investigation. While investigating Lee, the prosecution uncovered evidence that Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae received tens of millions of won from businessman Park, prompting a search and seizure of Noh’s National Assembly office and his constituency office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and imposed a travel ban on him.

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