Police review reinvestigation of Han Dong-hoon's daughter; Kim Byung-kee reinterrogation not ruled out

Police are reviewing whether to reopen an investigation into allegations surrounding independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's daughter's college admissions, while also leaving open the possibility of summoning independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee for additional questioning.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Go Beom-seok said Monday at a regular press briefing at the agency's offices in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that police would "re-analyze the content of the previous investigation and review the scope of any reinvestigation" regarding the allegations involving Han's daughter.

Go also said a previous request for international judicial cooperation had not been forwarded by prosecutors, adding that the Ministry of Justice was conducting an audit of the matter. He indicated police would take the audit's findings into account.

On whether Han's daughter could be included as a subject of investigation, Go said it was "difficult to prejudge" the matter, as the full details of the case would need to be reviewed first.

The allegations against Han's daughter center on claims that she inflated her credentials for US college applications through ghostwritten academic papers and the publication of plagiarized e-books. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit received a related complaint in May 2022 and, while conducting its investigation, applied to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in November of that year for international criminal judicial cooperation to verify materials held in the United States.

Prosecutors did not forward the request to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office or the Ministry of Justice, citing insufficient justification for the need for cooperation and a low likelihood that the US side would comply. Police continued their investigation without seeking additional international cooperation or applying for search and seizure warrants, and in December 2023 decided not to refer the case to prosecutors on 11 charges related to Han's family.

Multiple civic groups have since filed complaints against Han and prosecutors suspected of involvement in the investigation on charges including abuse of authority, obstruction of the exercise of rights and dereliction of duty, demanding an inquiry into whether Han had moved to suppress the investigation during his tenure as justice minister.

Police are also conducting a supplementary investigation into independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee. Go said the investigation was "ongoing" and that police were "making every effort to proceed as quickly as possible," adding that the possibility of summoning Kim for additional questioning was "not being ruled out."

Regarding the status of the investigation following the questioning of lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, Go said the probe was proceeding in accordance with legal review and established procedures. He added that the possibility of further questioning was also "not being excluded," saying police would "review the content of the previous questioning, conduct a legal review, and proceed with the investigation according to procedure."