Kim Byung-ki Protests Ethics Committee's Expulsion Decision: "Will Immediately Request Retrial... Is This So Cruel?"

"Allegations Cannot Become Facts," Kim Protests
Suspicions Include Nomination Bribes and Hotel Vouchers
Expulsion and Related Procedures Delayed

Former Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki has expressed his opposition to the party Ethics Committee’s decision to expel him, stating, “I will immediately request a retrial.”

On January 13, Kim wrote on social media, “Allegations cannot become facts,” and argued, “Is it really so difficult to ask for just one month’s patience?” He then questioned, “What is the reason for such cruelty?”

Previously, the Ethics Committee announced that after a marathon meeting that lasted from the afternoon until late at night the previous day, it had decided on expulsion, stating, “We comprehensively considered whether the statute of limitations for disciplinary action had expired, as well as the seriousness of the matter.”

Kim has been embroiled in several allegations, including: suspicions of an expensive luncheon meeting with Coupang officials; suspicions of accepting nomination bribes during the 2022 local elections and failing to address related petitions; suspicions of receiving hotel accommodation vouchers from Korean Air; allegations of involvement in his second son’s transfer to Soongsil University; and suspicions that his spouse misused district council business expenses for personal purposes.

Former Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki, who is suspected of various corrupt practices including nomination bribery, is appearing before the Democratic Party Ethics Tribunal at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on January 12, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

It is reported that Kim emphasized the impossibility of expulsion, citing the statute of limitations for disciplinary action that states, “Disciplinary action cannot be taken if three years have passed since the date the grounds for discipline occurred.” In response, Han Dongsoo, Chair of the Ethics Committee, said, “According to Supreme Court precedent, if the statute of limitations has expired for certain matters, this is considered as a reference in determining the level of discipline. However, the committee concluded that expulsion is warranted based solely on the multiple disciplinary grounds for which the statute of limitations has not expired.”

In the case of disciplinary action by the Ethics Committee, a retrial can be requested within seven days. If no retrial is requested, the disciplinary action was scheduled to be reported to the Supreme Council on the 14th and put to a vote at the general assembly on the 15th. However, as Kim has announced his intention to request a retrial, the schedule has been postponed until after the retrial results are determined.