Police currently investigating allegations that Kim Byung-kee, former floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (now an independent lawmaker), took nomination bribes summoned Kim's spouse, a person surnamed Lee, and questioned Lee for about eight hours. Lee is suspected of violating the Political Funds Act, among other charges.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit questioned Lee as a suspect from 2 p.m. to 9:58 p.m. on the 22nd at the agency's Major Crimes Unit building in Mapo District, Seoul.
After finishing the questioning and leaving the building that day, Lee kept silent in response to reporters' questions such as "what did you say in today's questioning," "did you admit to receiving nomination bribes," and "did lawmaker Kim Byung-kee also know about this."
Kim is suspected of receiving a total of 30 million won in nomination bribes from two Dongjak District council members before the 2020 general election and then returning the money. Police suspect that Lee Ji-hee, a Dongjak District council member close to Kim, and Kim's spouse, Lee, handled the bribes in the middle.
According to a petition made public by former lawmaker Lee Su-jin, who had belonged to the Democratic Party, Kim's spouse, Lee, received 20 million won from a district council member, a person surnamed Kim, at Kim's home in Dongjak District around Jan. 2020, and returned it in Jun. at Kim's local office.
Vice Chair Lee Ji-hee was said to have received 10 million won from another district council member, a person surnamed Jeon, in the parking lot of the Dongjak District Office in Mar. of the same year, and returned it three months later at Kim's local office.
On this day, police were said to have questioned Lee about whether the petition's contents were true, whether there was any quid pro quo, and why the money was returned.
Lee also faces allegations of privately misusing the Dongjak District Council's business promotion expenses. However, the day's questioning was said to have been limited to matters related to Kim's alleged nomination bribes.
The day before, police had summoned Vice Chair Lee as a suspect in connection with the nomination bribe allegations. With questioning of the related parties completed, Kim himself is expected to be summoned soon.
Meanwhile, in addition to the alleged receipt of political funds, Kim faces 13 allegations of misconduct, including requesting meals and personnel favors from Coupang, special treatment for his second son at Soongsil University, misuse of the district council's business promotion expenses, his eldest son's disclosure of secrets at the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and the quashing of an investigation by the Dongjak Police Station.