Noh Young-min, former chief of staff to the president, and Kim Hyun-mi, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, were acquitted in a first-instance ruling on charges of exerting pressure on a private company to solicit employment for Lee Jung-geun, a former deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Party.
On August 13, Judge Lim Hye-won of the Seoul Central District Court found both Noh and Kim not guilty of obstruction of business. Two other defendants, former presidential secretary Kwon and former Ministry of Land official Jeon, were also acquitted.
Judge Lim stated, "The evidence presented by the prosecution is insufficient to conclude that Noh and Kim exerted influence to obstruct personnel operations."
Following the ruling, Noh remarked, "The prosecution charged in a case without substance. It must be revealed whose pressure led to this prosecution."
Kim also commented, "After five years, the first-instance ruling has come. I extend my sincere condolences to the public servants of the Ministry of Land who have faced many difficulties during this time."
The defendants were indicted in January of last year for allegedly using their authority at the Ministry of Land to exert pressure to secure positions for political figures, including Lee, in private companies.
Prosecutors suspect that Noh, Kim, and Kwon conspired to have Lee appointed as a senior advisor at Korea Complex Logistics in August 2020, thereby obstructing the company's personnel operations.
Kim is also accused of colluding with Jeon to influence the hiring of another individual as a senior advisor at Korea Complex Logistics in July 2018.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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