Prosecutors Raid National Assembly Communication Office Over Lee Hak-young's 'Employment Favoritism Suspicion'

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution is conducting a search and seizure of the aides of Lee Hak-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is suspected of involvement in employment solicitation at Korea Integrated Logistics, an affiliate of CJ Group.

The photo shows the office of Assemblyman Lee Hak-young in Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-chul) is securing materials exchanged between Lee's side and the supervised institutions on the parliamentary data distribution system within the National Assembly Communication Office on the 21st.

Lee, whose constituency is Gunpo City, Gyeonggi Province, is under investigation for allegedly exerting undue influence to get acquaintances employed at Korea Integrated Logistics through Han Dae-hee, former chief of staff to the mayor of Gunpo City, and Lee's aides.

The prosecution had previously conducted a forced investigation on Han and others on the 1st and also carried out search and seizure at Lee's Gunpo City constituency office and residence on the 15th.

The prosecution believes that due to their solicitation, Mr. A, a special advisor in Lee's constituency, was hired as a standing advisor for three years starting in 2019, and Mr. B, who served as a constituency advisory committee member, was hired last year, each receiving annual salaries amounting to tens of millions of won.

At the time, former Mayor Han promised to relocate the logistics center after residents' complaints about traffic congestion increased due to the growing volume of parcel deliveries at the integrated logistics center. In 2021, he met with Lee and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to request the relocation of the center.

Lee denies the allegations, stating, "I have never exerted or instructed any undue pressure regarding hiring at the logistics center."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.