Police investigating allegations that Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Byung-kee took bribes for nominations have launched a compulsory investigation.
The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crime Investigation Division has been executing a search and seizure warrant from 7:55 a.m. on the 14th to investigate Representative Kim, who is suspected of violating the Political Funds Act, among other charges.
Searches are underway at six locations, including the home of Representative Kim and the home of Lee Ji-hee, vice chair of the Dongjak District Council, who has been identified as involved in the exchange. Kim's wife was also included among the targets of the search.
Kim is suspected of receiving a total of 30 million won from two former Dongjak district council members before and after the 2020 National Assembly election in exchange for future nominations, then returning the money.
Police summoned and questioned former Dongjak district council members A and B, who are suspected of delivering the money, on the 8th and 9th. On the day A appeared, A's attorney said, "The petition says 10 million won was delivered," and argued, "Other than what is in the petition, there was no give-and-take with Representative Kim's side."
A and B are said to have submitted a petition in Dec. 2023 through former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Su-jin to the office of Lee Jae-myung, who was then the party leader, stating that they gave money to Representative Kim's side and later got it back. Lee says she submitted the petition to Kim Hyun-ji, now the senior presidential secretary for the first lady, who was then an aide in Lee's office, but that it was ignored.