Police Raid Coupang Headquarters Over Alleged Obstruction of Business by Lawmaker Kim Byung-kee

[Financial News] Police have launched a compulsory investigation into independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee over allegations that he had an expensive meal with a former Coupang chief executive and then asked the company to disadvantage his former aide in personnel decisions.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Public Crime Investigation Division announced that from 9:40 a.m. on the 29th it was conducting search and seizure operations at two locations: Coupang’s headquarters in Songpa District and the Coupang Social Contribution Committee in Seocho District, to secure materials related to Kim’s alleged obstruction of business.
Kim is alleged to have had an expensive meal last September, ahead of the National Assembly audit, with Park Dae-jun, then head of Coupang Korea, during which he reportedly requested that his former aide, who had joined Coupang, be subjected to unfavorable personnel treatment.
Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice filed a criminal complaint against Kim last December on charges including obstruction of business by abuse of power and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Police summoned former representative Park as a reference witness on the 8th and questioned him for about three and a half hours.
Kim is also facing 13 other allegations, including accepting and later returning a nomination donation, receiving Korean Air hotel vouchers and demanding special protocol treatment, his spouse’s private misuse of Dongjak District Council official business expenses, and preferential treatment in his second son’s transfer to Soongsil University.

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter