Police Raid Home of Lawmaker Kim Byung-gi’s Second Son Over Alleged Preferential Treatment in Transfer and Hiring

According to The Financial News, police have launched a compulsory investigation into the second son of independent lawmaker Kim Byung-gi, who is suspected of receiving preferential treatment in his university transfer and hiring.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) Public Crime Investigation Unit sent investigators on the morning of the 13th to the home of Kim’s younger son, identified only by his surname Kim, to carry out a search and seizure.
Police are reportedly seeking to secure materials related to allegations that he received special favors when transferring to a contract-based department at Soongsil University and when being hired by the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb.
Kim is suspected of having received preferential treatment in 2023 during the process of transferring to the Department of Innovation Management at Soongsil University.
There are also allegations that his father, lawmaker Kim, intervened through influence-peddling in the process of his hiring at Bithumb last year.
Police summoned Kim twice, on the 25th of last month and the 2nd of this month, questioning him as a suspect on charges including obstruction of business.
This is the first time that investigators have conducted a compulsory search directly targeting him. Earlier, in January, police raided lawmaker Kim’s residence and at the same time carried out a search and seizure at his son’s home. Meanwhile, lawmaker Kim, who faces 13 separate allegations including illegal political funds and preferential treatment for his second son, underwent a third round of questioning on the 11th. However, the session was halted after about five hours due to health reasons. Police are analyzing the materials they have obtained and plan to continue investigating all related allegations. They are also coordinating the schedule for a fourth round of questioning of lawmaker Kim.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter