Former Aide to Kim Byung-gi Appears Before Police After Six Months: "Face-Saving Arrest Warrant Application"

[Financial News] Police investigating various misconduct allegations involving independent lawmaker Kim Byung-gi have summoned his former aide again after approximately six months, following prosecutors' request for a supplementary investigation.
The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency summoned Kim, the lawmaker's former aide, as a witness at around 1 p.m. on the 2nd and is questioning him. It has been approximately six months since Kim last appeared before police in early April.
Kim arrived at the Mapo office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at around 12:59 p.m. and said, "I sincerely congratulate lawmaker Kim Byung-gi on avoiding the prosecution investigation he was so afraid of." He criticized the investigation, saying, "I believe the police investigation remained at about the level of a defense attorney for lawmaker Kim."
Regarding the police's application for an arrest warrant, he also claimed, "This was an investigation that should not have been difficult, yet they did not apply for an arrest warrant for a year and then sought one as if they had been pushed into it." He added, "I believe it was a face-saving application for an arrest warrant intended to be rejected." He continued, "This is the 15th investigation, and it is so absurd and pathetic," but also said, "Because I want lawmaker Kim to receive the punishment he deserves, I will cooperate with the investigation 100 or even 200 times."
Kim explained that the day's questioning concerned allegations that Kim Byung-gi accepted bribes related to the preferential employment of his second son at Jinwoo Sanjeon, that he turned a blind eye to allegations that independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo accepted a nomination bribe, and allegations of evidence destruction.
Police previously applied for an arrest warrant for Kim Byung-gi on charges including bribery and obstruction of business on the 7th of last month. However, on the 11th of the same month, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office returned the warrant, saying there was insufficient substantiation of the need for detention, and requested a supplementary investigation.
Kim Byung-gi is accused of having his second son hired by Jinwoo Sanjeon in exchange for carrying out legislative activities favorable to the company and receiving approximately 67 million won in salary, university tuition and other payments. He is also accused of obstructing the Democratic Party of Korea's nomination process by tolerating Kang Sun-woo's receipt of a 100 million won nomination bribe during the 2022 local elections, despite knowing about it.
After completing the supplementary investigation, including questioning Kim, police plan to review whether to reapply for an arrest warrant for Kim Byung-gi.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter