Police Investigate Kim Seong-jin as Witness in 'Lee Jun-seok Sexual Bribery Allegation' Case

Application of Special Act on the Aggravated Punishment for Soliciting Bribes Charges
Whether Emphasis on Relationship with Public Officials Is Also a Key Issue

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, investigating the ‘sexual bribery allegations’ against Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, conducted a witness interview in the form of an investigative meeting with Kim Seong-jin, CEO of iKist, at the Seoul Detention Center from 9:30 a.m. on the 30th. Kim is known to be a key figure who provided sexual bribery to Lee.

Currently, Kim is serving a nine-year prison sentence at the Seoul Detention Center, handed down by the Supreme Court for embezzling over 24 billion won in investment funds. Through his lawyer, Kim has expressed his intention to actively cooperate with the police investigation.

In April, the police summoned Jang, who was in charge of protocol at iKist, for questioning. Jang is suspected of having directly provided sexual bribery to Lee under Kim’s instructions. It is also known that Lee’s driver was investigated at that time.

Other allegations surrounding Lee are also being investigated simultaneously. In April, Kim Cheol-geun, the chief political secretary to the party leader, was questioned as a suspect on charges of evidence tampering related to the whistleblower of Lee’s sexual bribery allegations. Separately, the People Power Party’s Ethics Committee will review disciplinary actions against Lee on the 7th of next month.

With upcoming police personnel changes, there is a possibility that the person responsible for the investigation may be replaced. Lee has been charged under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes for accepting bribes through mediation. Unlike general bribery charges, the key issues are whether Lee actually received sexual bribery and whether he emphasized his connections with public officials, including former President Park Geun-hye.

Lee has consistently denied the sexual bribery allegations. In an interview on the YouTube channel Pen & Mike TV on the 17th, he stated, "Both (sexual bribery and payoffs) are wrong." On the 29th, he denied claims that Kim had provided sexual bribery to him nine years ago and that he received a watch from President Park Geun-hye, saying, "He is telling huge lies and playing games."