Lawmaker Kim Byong-joo's prolonged investigation to be reviewed by committee

South Korean police are referring some of the allegations against independent lawmaker Kim Byong-joo to an Investigation Review Committee, seeking to address the prolonged investigation into the cases. The committee, composed of internal and external members, will examine the appropriateness of the police's handling of the probe.

The review will focus on allegations such as preferential admission for Kim's second son to Soongsil University and the acquisition and disclosure of Telegram chat logs from his aides. The committee's findings are likely to include recommendations for a timeline to forward these specific cases to the prosecution. This move comes as the investigation, initiated nearly a year ago, has yet to yield conclusive results on some of Kim's alleged wrongdoings.

Civil groups and former aides have pushed for the review committee's involvement due to the perceived delays. The civic group 'Seomin Minssaeng Daechukwi' filed a request for the committee's review last month, citing concerns over the investigation's sluggish pace. Similarly, former aides who had previously sued Kim for violating the 통신비밀보호법 (Act on the Protection of Communications Secrets) also applied for a review on July 3.

The police investigation into Kim began in September of the previous year, initially focusing on the preferential admission allegations. As more suspicions emerged, including receiving airline tickets, preferential employment for his son, and illicit political funds, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency consolidated these cases for a comprehensive investigation. Currently, Kim is under scrutiny for 13 different allegations.