Prosecution bans Roh Young-min from leaving the country for 'Lee Jung-geun CJ job solicitation suspicion'

Former Blue House Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, who is accused of intervening in the employment process of former Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun of the Democratic Party, was banned from leaving the country.

The 2nd Anti-Corruption Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently banned Roh from leaving the country.

Director Roh is accused of exerting pressure on former Vice President Lee to be hired as a full-time advisor to Korea Complex Logistics, a CJ Group affiliate, in 2020.

Former Vice President Lee ran for the Democratic Party's candidate in the general election in April 2020, but after losing, he served as a full-time advisor to Korea Complex Logistics for one year from August of the same year, receiving an annual salary of about 100 million won.

Korea Integrated Logistics is a company in which CJ Logistics owns 100% of the shares, but it is known that as a customary practice, people recommended by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are appointed as full-time advisors as cargo terminal facilities are built on land owned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The full-time advisor position was usually held by a retired official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport with experience in logistics policy.

Prosecutors confirmed that Mr. Lee met with former chief Roh after losing the election, and immediately after that he sent a text message saying, 'Chief only chance'.

At the time, Mr. Lee was in charge of the Seocho-gap regional committee of the Democratic Party, so it is known that he also found out that he asked for help from former chief Roh and received an answer that he could hold a concurrent position.

On the 23rd of last month, the prosecution is said to have named Roh as the suspect in the warrant while raiding the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Complex Logistics, and the residence of former Blue House senior secretary for personnel A.

Prosecutors are also looking into whether there was a request from former chief executive Roh in the process of hiring another Democratic Party member as a full-time advisor to replace former vice president Lee.

After analyzing the confiscated items, the prosecution is expected to summon Roh to confirm the details.