Former Seoul City Council Chairman Kim In-ho Cleared of Election Law and Anti-Graft Act Violation Allegations

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Former Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman Kim In-ho (photo) has been cleared of the election law and Anti-Graft Act violation charges that were falsely filed against him.

Former Chairman Kim was accused of providing sexual favors to fellow council members ahead of the 2020 Seoul Metropolitan Council chairman election, but the police recently concluded the investigation with a "no charges" decision.

The Anti-Corruption Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reportedly closed the investigation on the 18th of last month with a "no charges" decision regarding allegations against former Chairman Kim for violating the Public Official Election Act, the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft, and the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic.

The civic group, the Committee for the Protection of the Common People’s Livelihood, filed a complaint with the police on May 2nd of this year based on these allegations.

The committee alleged that "between May and June 2020, former Chairman Kim provided alcohol and sexual favors to 30 to 40 Seoul council members at an entertainment establishment in Dongdaemun-gu and handed out envelopes containing money."

However, the police investigation found no testimony or evidence to substantiate the allegations, and the entertainment venue cited as the location of the favors had already been demolished at the time the suspicions arose.

The complaint against former Chairman Kim was raised just before the Democratic Party’s Dongdaemun District Mayor candidate primary, causing significant damage.

However, with the police’s recent decision of no charges, former Chairman Kim has restored his reputation.

Former Chairman Kim served three terms as a Seoul Metropolitan Council member, chaired the Finance and Economy Committee during his second term, and was the youngest vice chairman in the 9th council. He then served as chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council from July 2020 to June 2022 as a member of the ruling party.

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