Police Request Pre-Arrest Warrant for Key Figure Bae in Kim Hye-kyung's 'Corporate Card Misuse Allegation'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The police have applied for a pre-arrest warrant for Bae, a key figure in the 'corporate card misuse suspicion' involving Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 23rd, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency applied to the prosecution for an arrest warrant against Bae, a former Grade 5 special position employee in the General Affairs Division of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, on charges of breach of trust and violation of the Public Official Election Act.

Bae is identified as a key figure in this case, having worked at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government from July 2018 to September 2021 while Lee served as governor of Gyeonggi Province, acting as Kim's personal secretary. During this period, he is suspected of paying for Kim's personal meals with the Gyeonggi corporate card or illegally obtaining prescriptions under other people's names and delivering them to Kim.

On April 4th, the police conducted a search and seizure at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government office and Bae's residence, securing necessary materials and Bae's mobile phone for investigation. Additionally, in May, they sequentially searched 129 restaurants and other locations where the Gyeonggi corporate card was used to collect evidence. Subsequently, after summoning Bae multiple times as a suspect since the 3rd and conducting investigations, the police concluded that the charges were proven and decided to apply for an arrest warrant.

Kim, who has been pointed out as Bae's 'superior,' appeared at the police station on the afternoon of the 23rd as a suspect and was questioned for about five hours. It is reported that Kim consistently stated she was not involved in the overall process of the corporate card misuse suspicion.

After Kim's investigation, Lee posted on social media (SNS), "I deeply apologize once again to the public for failing to properly manage my subordinates and for my wife receiving private favors from public officials." He added, "During the investigation, it was confirmed that my wife did not use the card and that the card was used by Secretary Bae. My wife believed that Bae paid out of his own pocket and also stated that she reimbursed the meal expenses."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.