Police probe possible quid pro quo involving Kim Byung-kee's son and former aide at Bithumb

[The Financial News] Police investigating allegations that Kim Byung-kee's younger son was helped into a job are looking into how the lawmaker's former aide was appointed as an adviser at Bithumb.
According to police on the 11th, the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is said to have recently confirmed during its investigation that A, a former aide to Kim, took on advisory duties at Bithumb starting in September last year.
A worked as an aide in Kim's office in the first half of last year. That period partly overlapped with the time when Kim's younger son, identified only by his surname Kim, was hired by Bithumb and worked there as an intern. Kim's son is believed to have worked at Bithumb for about six months starting in January last year.
Police are investigating whether Kim intervened in his son's hiring at Bithumb and whether he later carried out legislative activities favorable to the company. In February last year, Kim raised the issue of monopoly power among virtual asset exchanges during a National Policy Committee hearing, questioning the Chairperson of the Financial Services Commission. Police believe the remarks were aimed at Dunamu Inc., a rival of Bithumb.
Investigators are also checking whether A was involved in drafting the questions at the time and whether there was any solicitation or quid pro quo in the process that led to A's later advisory role at Bithumb. During recent questioning of Bithumb officials, police are also said to have confirmed the facts surrounding A's appointment as an adviser.
Bithumb, however, says A's advisory work has nothing to do with the allegations involving Kim. The company explained that A began advising after Kim's younger son had already left the company, and that it never signed a formal employment or advisory contract with A. It also said no regular monetary compensation was paid.
Police raided Bithumb headquarters in Seocho-gu on the 8th as part of the probe into allegations that Kim's younger son was helped into the company. More recently, they also changed the status of a Bithumb official to a suspect on charges of bribery. Kim is accused of carrying out legislative activities targeting Dunamu Inc. in exchange for his son's employment at Bithumb.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter