Several former high-ranking officials, including the ex-chief of staff to the president, Roh Young-min, and the ex-minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kim Hyun-mi, were found not guilty in the initial court proceedings related to allegations of obtaining favorable job placements for political figures, such as Lee Jeong-geun, the former vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, at private enterprises.
Presiding Judge Lim Hye-won from the Criminal Division 19 of the Seoul Central District Court conducted a sentencing hearing on August 13 for Roh, Kim, former Cheong Wa Dae personnel secretary Kwon, and former head of the operational support team at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Jeon—who were all accused of obstructing business—and found them not guilty.
Roh, Kim, and Kwon were charged in January of last year without being held in custody, accused of allegedly urging CJ Logistics’ subsidiary Korea Complex Logistics—under the ministry’s oversight—to appoint Lee as a permanent advisor in August 2020. Kim and Jeon were also charged with involvement in the appointment of another political figure, Kim, as a permanent advisor at Korea Complex Logistics.
The court initially found the defendant not guilty regarding the charge of hiring Lee, noting, “Korea Complex Logistics never voiced any objection.” It further mentioned, “Korea Complex Logistics did not assert that it experienced any hindrance or harm due to Lee’s employment, nor did it ask for an inquiry.”
Previously, prosecutors stated that Lee, who was defeated in the April 2020 general election as a candidate from the Democratic Party, sent Roh messages such as “Only your chance, Chief,” and that Roh influenced the hiring process. They also asserted that Korea Complex Logistics initially resisted hiring Lee, who lacked experience in logistics, but eventually agreed.
However, the court stated, “Lee sent messages such as ‘Please allow me to hold a concurrent position,’ but Roh responded with ‘Please’ and ‘It’s better to take a break from politics for now,’ suggesting he discouraged it.” It mentioned that Lee’s predecessor also did not have experience in logistics and had a political background, concluding there were no problems with his appointment.
With regard to the employment of political figure Kim, the court also dismissed the allegations, noting, “There is no evidence that Korea Complex Logistics opposed the hiring.” It highlighted, “Although Korea Complex Logistics raised worries about Kim’s political history, there is no indication these worries were conveyed to Kim or Jeon. The ministry manages hundreds of roles, and this position is not restricted to senior officials. Even if Korea Complex Logistics had objected, the ministry had no basis to insist on the appointment.”
Nevertheless, the court rejected the defendants’ assertion that the audio recordings of Lee were acquired illegally and therefore not admissible as evidence. The prosecutors presented the recordings, although the defendants contended that their acquisition was unlawful. The court remarked, “Lee provided the recordings following consultation with his attorney, considering them beneficial,” and dismissed the defendants’ claim.
Following the sentencing, Roh and others condemned the prosecution, referring to it as a “political retaliation investigation.” Roh stated, “The prosecution filed an unfounded case. We need to find out who exerted pressure for this indictment.” Kim remarked, “I hope public officials are no longer used as victims of political retaliation investigations and that such misconduct does not happen again.”
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