Police: "Byungki Kim, Conclusion Soon on Some Charges"... Mentions Strengthening of Investigation Team

"Legal Review Underway"


Arrest to Be Considered at a Later Stage

The police have reaffirmed their intention to reach a conclusion soon on some of the charges related to Independent Lawmaker Byungki Kim, who is under investigation for 13 allegations including bribery.

Byungki Kim, Independent Member of Parliament. Yonhap News Agency

At a regular briefing held on the morning of April 20 at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Seoul Police Chief Park Jeongbo stated, “Most of the investigations have been carried out and we are now in the process of legal review,” adding, “We expect to be able to reach a conclusion on some of the charges in the near future.” However, he did not specify an exact timeline. This reiterates the position announced on April 6 that a decision would be made soon regarding some of the allegations.

Regarding whether an arrest would be made, he said, “This is a matter to be considered at the next stage after the legal review is complete.”

In response to criticism that the investigation is being delayed, he cited recent changes in the investigative leadership. The position of head of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit had been vacant but was filled after a personnel reshuffle on April 17, during which time the head of the Investigation Division had been handling related work concurrently. Park Chanwoo, former Head of the Economic Crime Investigation Division at the National Office of Investigation, was appointed as the new head of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit, and Oh Seungjin, Chief of Gangseo Police Station in Seoul, was appointed as the new head of the Investigation Division.

Assemblyman Kim is accused of receiving and subsequently returning 30 million won in cash from two Dongjak District council members in Seoul ahead of the 2020 general election. There are also allegations that his spouse, Ms. Lee, misused a Dongjak District Council corporate credit card for personal purposes, as well as suspicions that he exerted external pressure during the pre-investigation (internal probe) by the Dongjak Police Station in Seoul regarding this case. In total, 13 allegations have been raised, including claims of preferential treatment for his second son’s transfer to Soongsil University and employment at Bithumb.

Assemblyman Kim has been questioned seven times since his first summons on February 26. He has mostly denied the allegations.

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