Police Question Former Aide Who Exposed Kim Byungki Allegations as Reference Witness: "Most Charges Are True"

The police have summoned and are currently questioning a former aide who was the first to raise various allegations of misconduct against Kim Byungki, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit announced on January 14 that they had called in the former aide, identified as Mr. Kim, as a reference witness for questioning this afternoon. The police had also summoned Mr. Kim on January 5.

Upon entering the interrogation room, Mr. Kim told reporters, "The lawmaker said, 'These suspicions cannot be proven true,' but since most of the criminal charges currently under investigation are in fact true, I will do my best to explain them thoroughly so that they can be fully substantiated."

Mr. Kim also appeared at the police station in November last year and submitted a written statement regarding allegations that the lawmaker's second son was hired by Bithumb. The statement also included claims that the lawmaker's wife received illegal political funds from a former Dongjak District Council member and used the council member's corporate card. However, it stated that no investigation had even begun regarding the political funds, and the corporate card case was closed without a proper investigation.

On this day, the police conducted a search and seizure at six locations, including the lawmaker's residence, in connection with allegations that Kim Byungki received and then returned a "nomination fee" of 30 million won from two former Dongjak District Council members.

There are a total of 24 complaints related to Kim Byungki currently under investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The allegations include: ▲ receiving and returning a nomination fee, ▲ accepting a Korean Air hotel accommodation voucher and requesting protocol services, ▲ having an expensive meal with the CEO of Coupang, ▲ intervening in the hiring of his eldest son by the National Intelligence Service, ▲ mobilizing aides for his eldest son's work at the National Intelligence Service, and ▲ providing preferential medical treatment at a local hospital.