Police raid Dongjak Police Station over allegations that lawmaker Kim Byung-kee sought to quash investigation
- Input
- 2026-01-23 10:58:00
- Updated
- 2026-01-23 10:58:00
According to reporting by Financial News on the 23rd, the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) Metropolitan Investigation Unit began a search and seizure at Seoul Dongjak Police Station at around 9:50 a.m. that day. Dongjak Police Station is suspected of having halted an investigation into allegations that Kim's spouse, identified only by the surname Lee, misused a corporate credit card belonging to the vice chair of the Dongjak District Council.
In April 2024, Dongjak Police Station opened a pre-indictment inquiry into Lee and a former vice chair of the Dongjak District Council, identified only by the surname Cho. However, the station closed the case in August of the same year, finding no charges. The SMPA later ordered several rounds of supplementary investigation, but the preliminary inquiry was ultimately terminated, according to reports.
During this process, allegations emerged that Kim asked the then chief of Seoul Dongjak Police Station to make the case go away, using a politician who is a former senior police official as an intermediary. Another allegation surfaced that, even after a petition was submitted regarding suspicions of Kim's so-called nomination bribe, Dongjak Police Station failed to report it to higher authorities.
On the 15th, police questioned former Dongjak Police Station investigation team leader Park, who handled the case at the time, as a suspect on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, as well as violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. Earlier, they also summoned the former head of the investigation division as a witness. Investigators plan to review how the case was closed based on materials seized in the raid.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter