Kim Byung-ki Appears for Third Police Questioning Over Alleged Bribery and Favoritism in Son’s Employment

[Financial News] Kim Byung-ki, an independent lawmaker facing 13 separate allegations including bribery, returned to the police for questioning after about two weeks.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Public Crime Investigation Unit summoned Kim as a suspect from 9 a.m. on the 11th. He had already been questioned on two consecutive days, the 26th and 27th of last month, and this is his third appearance before the police.
Kim arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit building in Mapo District, Seoul, at around 8:55 a.m. that day. When reporters asked, "What will you focus on explaining in today’s questioning?" he only replied, "I will cooperate with the investigation," before heading to the interrogation room. He did not respond to other questions, including whether he still denies allegations that he received 30 million won.
Police are said to have gone through the various allegations against Kim one by one during the first two rounds of questioning. The first session reportedly focused on verifying the facts surrounding alleged preferential treatment in his younger son’s transfer to Soongsil University and alleged job solicitations at the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb. On the second day, investigators are said to have concentrated on alleged nomination kickbacks, as well as suspicions that his spouse misused a corporate card for business expenses at the Dongjak District Council and that there was an attempt to quash the investigation. Kim is reported to have denied most of the charges at the time.
Kim is under suspicion of having received illegal political funds from Dongjak District council members in return for candidate nominations ahead of the 2020 general election. He also faces allegations of preferential treatment in his younger son’s transfer to Soongsil University and job solicitations at Bithumb, attempts to interfere with an investigation into his spouse’s misuse of business expenses at the district council, and turning a blind eye to indications that lawmaker Kang Sun-woo received 100 million won in nomination kickbacks.
Other allegations under investigation reportedly include that he received hotel vouchers worth about 1.6 million won from Korean Air, that he demanded personnel disadvantages in connection with a former aide’s employment at Coupang and was involved in an expensive meal, and that he unlawfully obtained Telegram chat logs of his aides.
Police have recently continued questioning related figures, including conducting a face-to-face confrontation between Lee Ji-hee, Vice Chairperson of the Dongjak District Council and a close associate of Kim, and a former district council member who wrote a petition related to the alleged nomination kickbacks, as well as summoning Kim’s younger son again for further questioning.
In the latest session, investigators plan to further verify the credibility of related statements and trace the flow of funds, after which they will decide whether to summon Kim again and how to handle his custody status.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter