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Police initiated a forced investigation on the 29th regarding claims of business obstruction against Rep. Kim Byung-kee (Seoul Dongjak-gu (A)), following controversy surrounding a lunch hosted by Coupang.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Public Crime Investigation Division stated that it started confiscating and inspecting two sites, including Coupang’s headquarters, at 9:40 a.m. on that day.

Representative Kim is alleged to have met with Coupang executives and sought personnel disadvantages for his former aides who had moved to the company. Regarding this, police previously questioned former Coupang CEO Park Dae-jun as a witness on the 8th.

Mr. Park is recognized as the person who, in September of last year before a National Assembly inspection, organized an upscale lunch for Rep. Kim at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, along with senior Coupang officials.

Following the lunch, the involved employees encountered personnel issues like being sent abroad or being fired, leading to doubts that Rep. Kim used his power to intimidate his ex-assistants. Later, these former assistants revealed several instances of improper behavior by Rep. Kim.

In reply, Rep. Kim stated, “At the time of the meeting, one assistant had not yet joined Coupang,” and added, “There are rumors that my former assistants are using my name for their personal benefit, so I asked that they be prohibited from using my name for government relations purposes in the future.”