Independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, who faces 13 allegations of misconduct including receiving illegal campaign funds, was questioned by police for the first time and returned home. The questioning took about 14 and a half hours.
According to legal sources, Kim left the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Mapo office at about 11:33 p.m. after completing questioning on the 26th.
To reporters' questions such as "What did you mainly explain?" Kim replied only, "Thank you for your hard work," then got into a waiting vehicle and left.
Arriving at the Public Crime Investigation Unit at about 8:57 a.m. that day, Kim called the various allegations "a smear," saying, "I will faithfully undergo questioning to completely dispel all allegations and smears raised against me and will surely restore my honor." During the police questioning, Kim was also said to have given statements denying some of the charges.
Kim is currently linked to a total of 13 allegations, including receiving 30 million won in illegal campaign funds, intervening in his second son's transfer process to Soongsil University, seeking employment at the virtual asset exchange "Bithumb" for his second son, misusing his spouse's district council business-promotion expenses, and stealing a aide's Telegram chat contents.
Police reportedly assigned most of their investigators to Kim's questioning and analyzed gaps in his statements in real time. A police official said, "The charges are not proven by Kim's own words," adding, "We are fully prepared to establish proof even if he does not admit to them."
Police plan to summon Kim again for questioning on the morning of the 27th and then review whether to seek detention.