Lawmaker Kim Byung-kee (independent, Seoul Dongjak-gu A), who is accused of 13 instances of improper conduct, including favoring the transfer of his second son, appeared before the police on the 8th. This was his sixth call for questioning and followed a renewed investigation after six days.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Public Crime Investigation Division started looking into Kim as a suspect at 9 a.m. that day. Kim arrived at the police station approximately at 8:56 a.m. and said, “I believe the police are calling me in too often, but I will still explain everything honestly.” When questioned by journalists if he would give up his parliamentary immunity if a bench warrant is issued, he replied, “Would a bench warrant even be issued?” before going into the investigation room.
Since the police have chosen to divide and direct certain charges, they are anticipated to concentrate on thoroughly interrogating those allegations that can be substantiated in the coming period of this inquiry.
Legislator Kim has been dealing with 13 accusations since September of last year, beginning with the suspicion of giving favorable treatment to his second son’s transfer to Soongsil University. Despite the police investigation having lasted more than six months, none of the charges have been resolved yet.
In this context, Commissioner Park Jeong-bo from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency mentioned during a routine press conference on the 6th, “We will finalize cases that can be decided as soon as possible.” This indicates that although not all charges may be submitted together, decisions on certain charges will be made shortly.
Key accusations against Lawmaker Kim involve the possibility that he used his power to facilitate his second son’s transfer to Soongsil University and his job at a company. The main claim is that Kim directed his staff to go to Soongsil University and arranged for his son to be hired by a particular small or medium-sized business to satisfy the transfer conditions.
A key area of investigation involves the claim that Lawmaker Kim was involved in his son’s job at a digital currency exchange. It is said that Kim sought employment advantages from Bithumb and Dunamu, Upbit between September and November 2024, and during this time, he met with Bithumb’s top officials several times. Authorities are concentrating on verifying these allegations, having called Kim and his son in for questioning on the 2nd.
Lawmaker Kim is also under suspicion for having received 30 million South Korean won from two council members of Dongjak-gu prior to the 21st general election in 2020, and then returning it. Furthermore, inquiries are still being conducted regarding allegations that he influenced his son’s job at the virtual currency exchange Bithumb and his transfer to Soongsil University, tried to stop the police investigation into his wife’s improper use of a corporate card from the Dongjak-gu Council, and sought to penalize former staff members.
It has been reported that the police are evaluating further summonses, if required, following their investigation into Lawmaker Kim on that day.
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