Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Kim Byung-kee is under pressure inside and outside the party over a raft of allegations against him, his wife, his elder son, and his younger son. Until now, Kim has said there will be no resignation. But in political circles, some say it will be hard to respond by simply digging in when he and his family members are taking turns facing allegations.
The first allegation involving Kim's family concerned his wife. During last year's general election, the People Power Party raised a claim that in 2022 Kim's spouse misused the corporate card of Cho Jin-hee, then vice chair of the Dongjak District Council. At the time, Kim denied the allegation. But it resurfaced after a media outlet recently released a recording of Cho and a former aide to Kim.
The next allegation concerned the elder son's employment at the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The claim surfaced in June during the floor leader election. Kim previously headed personnel at the NIS, and a recording emerged of his wife calling the NIS management chief in 2016 saying she would "get a firm answer on the elder son's hiring." Kim's elder son reportedly passed the NIS experienced-hire recruitment four months after the call.
Another allegation about the elder son surfaced recently: that Kim had his aides help with the elder son's NIS intelligence work. Critics say this could constitute a violation of the NIS Act.
There is also an allegation that Kim was involved in his younger son's university transfer and employment. Kim reportedly met the president and admissions chief of Soongsil University in 2021 to ask how his younger son could transfer. The younger son transferred to Soongsil in 2023. The allegation was raised in September.
In addition, a recent allegation claims that, during the younger son's job search, Kim sought placement at the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb and pointed out problems at its competitor Upbit.
Beyond that, Kim and his family face allegations including an expensive meal with the Coupang CEO, a voucher for the top-tier suite at a Korean Air hotel, Korean Air's airport protocol service, and medical benefits at Boramae Hospital in his constituency. All could raise issues under the Kim Young-ran Act.
Pressure on Kim is mounting inside and outside the party. Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae said at a news conference on the 26th, "I am truly sorry to the people. I apologize." Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min also appeared on CPBC Radio and said, "If it were me, I would have thought very deeply about how to conduct myself."
The People Power Party is considering filing a police complaint. A People Power Party floor official said, "We have consistently raised the need for Kim to resign, but if he continues to show an attitude that seems to lack any sense of shame, we will have no choice but to file a complaint."
Kim has signaled he will state his position this week. Given that he visited Muan, South Jeolla, on the 29th for a memorial on the first anniversary of the "Dec. 29 airliner disaster," he is expected to state his position as early as the 30th.