SEOUL – On Friday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office conducted raids at the residences of two politicians closely associated with former President Moon Jae-in, amid allegations of employment interference.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The individuals targeted by these raids were Noh Young-min, former presidential chief of staff, and Kim Hyun-mi, former Land Minister. The prosecutors and investigators also searched land ministry offices to gather evidence pertaining to charges of business obstruction. The focus of the allegations is their supposed involvement in manipulating employment decisions at CJ KIFT Co., a logistics affiliate of the CJ Group. This manipulation allegedly facilitated the appointment of two individuals, including Lee Jung-geun, a former deputy secretary-general of the main opposition Democratic Party, to advisory positions in 2020.
Lee, recommended by the land ministry, served as a full-time adviser at CJ KIFT starting in August 2020, following an unsuccessful bid for the National Assembly earlier that year. The inquiry into Noh and Kim expanded as a result of suspicions that arose during the investigation of Lee's bribery case, which concluded with her imprisonment following a Supreme Court decision affirming her four-year and two-month sentence for bribery and political fund law violations.
Following the raids, prosecutors planned to analyze the seized materials before summoning Noh and Kim for further questioning.