Police Receive Complaint Against Kim Byunggi Over Alleged Request to Ruling PPP Lawmaker to Halt Investigation

Kim Byung-gi, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, has been reported again on allegations that he requested a prominent lawmaker from the People Power Party-then the ruling party during the previous administration-to intervene in a police investigation involving his spouse.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on January 4, a complaint was filed that day against Assemblyman Kim, a People Power Party lawmaker referred to as "A," and a National Police Agency Senior Superintendent referred to as "B," for alleged violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, dereliction of duty, and abuse of authority.

Kim Byung-gi, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is seen leaving after announcing his intention to resign from the floor leader position at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on December 30, 2025. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The complaint calls for a formal investigation, citing testimony obtained during the police's questioning of Kim's former aides as witnesses in November of last year. The testimony indicated that Kim attempted to solicit lawmaker A, a key figure in the then-ruling party, to have the investigation into his spouse dropped.

At the time, the police were conducting a preliminary investigation into Kim's wife, Lee, over suspicions that she had misused a corporate card belonging to a Dongjak District Council member for personal purposes between July and September 2022. After two months of investigation, the police concluded there was no evidence of wrongdoing and closed the case.

However, both lawmaker A and Senior Superintendent B deny the allegations. They maintain that they are not personally acquainted and have never actually communicated with each other.

The complainant stated, "If the police cannot address internal corruption allegations on their own, it will be difficult to restore public trust," adding, "This case should serve as a starting point for reaffirming the independence, transparency, and accountability of investigative procedures before the public."

The police are also investigating allegations that Floor Leader Kim received money from former Dongjak District Council members ahead of the 2020 general election and later returned it.

Former lawmaker Lee Sujin, who previously submitted a petition regarding the allegations to the Democratic Party leadership, said, "When I asked my aides to deliver the petition to the party leader's office, they replied, 'I will send it to Kim Hyunji, who was an aide in Assemblyman Lee Jaemyung's office, the party leader at the time.'"

Lee added, "When I checked with the party's ethics inspection team, they acted as if they were unaware of the petition," and continued, "As a result, the inspection was dropped, and those who wrote the petition, including former Dongjak District Mayor Lee Changwoo, were cut off from nomination."