Police Complete Search and Seizure of Byunggi Kim Over 'Election Bribery Allegations'... Kim Kyung to Be Summoned Tomorrow

The police have completed a compulsory investigation of the residence and other locations of Byunggi Kim, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is under suspicion of receiving election bribes.

On January 14, 2026, police investigators entered the office of Congressman Kim Byunggi of the Democratic Party of Korea, located within the National Assembly Members' Office Building, as the police began a search and seizure operation at Kim's residence and other locations amid various allegations of misconduct, including the acceptance of nomination bribes. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Public Crime Investigation Unit announced that it finished search and seizure operations at six locations, including Assemblyman Kim’s home, his constituency office, and his office in the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, which began at 7:55 a.m. on January 14, 2026. The targets of the search also included Kim’s wife, Ms. Lee, and Lee Jihee, Vice Chairperson of the Dongjak District Council, who is a close associate. Additionally, investigators were sent to the apartment of Kim’s second son, as it was suspected that valuables belonging to Kim might be stored there.

The search and seizure warrant specified only violations of the Political Funds Act. The compulsory investigation on this day is interpreted as focusing on the allegations of receiving election bribes among the various suspicions surrounding Assemblyman Kim. However, as a significant amount of time has passed since the allegations were first raised, there are concerns about how much relevant evidence can actually be secured.

Assemblyman Kim is suspected of receiving 10 million won and 20 million won each from two former Dongjak District Council members ahead of the 2020 general election and then returning the money afterward. It is known that Vice Chairperson Lee was also involved at the time. Previously, former Assemblywoman Lee Sujin, who was affiliated with the Democratic Party, revealed at the end of 2023 that former Dongjak District Mayor Lee Changwoo and former Dongjak District Council members had submitted a petition detailing these allegations.

In connection with this, Kim Hanmae, head of Citizens’ Action for Judicial Justice, filed a police complaint against Assemblyman Kim and the two former Dongjak District Council members for alleged violations of the Political Funds Act. Assemblyman Kim’s side has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “groundless slander raised ahead of the general election.”

The police are analyzing the evidence obtained during the search and seizure, and are expected to summon Assemblyman Kim for a full-scale investigation once this process is complete.

There are a total of 24 complaints related to Assemblyman Kim currently under investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The allegations against Kim include: ▲ receiving and returning election bribes ▲ receiving Korean Air hotel vouchers and demanding protocol services ▲ having an expensive meal with the CEO of Coupang ▲ intervening in the hiring of his eldest son at the National Intelligence Service ▲ mobilizing aides for his eldest son’s work at the National Intelligence Service ▲ preferential medical treatment at local hospitals.

Meanwhile, the police have requested that Kim Kyung, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member accused of giving 100 million won to independent Assemblywoman Kang Sunwoo in the name of election bribes, appear for questioning on the morning of January 15. Kim Kyung has reportedly agreed to appear. After the police investigation began, Kim Kyung had left for the United States, but returned to Korea on January 11 and was questioned from the night of his arrival until the early morning of January 12.