Police to re-question ex-aide to lawmaker Kim Byung-kee in supplementary probe

Police conducting a supplementary investigation into multiple misconduct allegations against independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee — at prosecutors' request — plan to summon a former aide to Kim for a second round of questioning.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit's public crime investigation team is set to call in former aide A on Friday as a witness to probe additional allegations, including that Kim turned a blind eye to fellow independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo's alleged receipt of a campaign donation in exchange for a nomination, as well as allegations of preferential treatment in securing employment and a university transfer for Kim's second son. The questioning comes 21 days after prosecutors returned the police's arrest warrant application for Kim on Aug. 11 and demanded supplementary investigation.

Police have been investigating Kim on charges of obstruction of business in connection with his role as the Democratic Party's lead negotiator on the Seoul branch's candidate nomination committee during the 2022 local elections. The allegation is that Kim knew Kang had received 100 million won ($73,600) from former Seoul city councilmember Kim Kyung along with a request to secure her a nomination, yet did nothing — thereby obstructing the party's nomination process. Police believe the former city councilmember ultimately received the nomination because Kim failed to raise the issue. A recorded conversation in which Kang informed Kim of the payment is among the key pieces of evidence.

Regarding allegations of preferential treatment in the transfer of Kim's second son to Soongsil University, police are applying aggravated bribery charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Investigators suspect that around May 2022, Kim arranged for his son to be hired at small and medium-sized enterprise Jinwoo Sanjeon and helped him meet the requirements for transfer into a contract-based department at Soongsil University in exchange for favors granted to the company. Police have calculated the bribe value at 67.36 million won, a figure that combines the salary Jinwoo Sanjeon paid Kim's son with tuition fees the company covered on his behalf.

Kim has denied all charges. On the allegation that he covered up the campaign donation, he is said to have told police that he in fact opposed the nomination — including by proposing a strategic nomination of a young female candidate for the Gangseo-gu district where the former city councilmember ran and won. On the allegation of preferential hiring at Jinwoo Sanjeon, he is said to have told police that his son worked there in a normal capacity.

The police investigation into Kim has stretched on for more than a year. An external review panel convened by police recommended on Aug. 25 that the investigation be wrapped up within a month, but police ultimately failed to meet that deadline and extended the probe.

National Investigation Headquarters chief Hong Seok-ki said at a regular press briefing on Aug. 28 that every time questions arose about delays in the Kim Byung-kee case, he had said police would scrutinize it carefully to avoid prosecutors sending it back for supplementary work — yet the demand came anyway. He added that the case had become a benchmark for understanding just how high a standard prosecutors set when preparing to bring charges.

Prosecutors are said to have determined that evidence needs to be strengthened not only on the nomination cover-up and preferential treatment allegations included in the arrest warrant application, but also on a separate bribery allegation involving Silla Leisure. That allegation centers on claims that Kim, at the request of a senior Silla Leisure official who had been his sunbae at the National Intelligence Service, asked favorable questions during a national audit.