Police Seek Arrest Warrant for Kim Byung-kee After Yearlong Probe, Drawing ‘Face-Saving’ Criticism

Police have sought an arrest warrant for Kim Byung-kee, a former floor leader of the Democratic Party who now sits as an independent, roughly a year after allegations surrounding him first triggered an investigation. The move has already prompted criticism that police are seeking to save face after a protracted and stalled inquiry.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s public-sector crime unit selected five of 13 allegations for the warrant. At the center is the accusation that Kim improperly influenced his son’s transfer into a contract department at Soongsil University. Investigators allege that the son obtained improper employment at a small company, Jinwoo Industrial, to meet the transfer requirements, while Kim gained economic benefits through wages and tuition. The alleged bribes in that case reportedly total about 67 million won.

The warrant also includes allegations that Kim received hotel vouchers from Korean Air and accepted 5 million won in political donations in return for legislative activity helping Shilla Leisure’s golf-course business. Police further accuse him of obstructing the Democratic Party’s nomination process by tolerating the receipt of a 100 million won nomination payment involving lawmaker Kang Sun-woo in the 2022 local elections. Another allegation concerns professional negligence linked to his spouse’s alleged personal use of a corporate card assigned to Dongjak District Council.

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If the practical value of the investigation is considered, the grounds for issuing an arrest warrant have in fact become weaker because the investigation has proceeded without detention for a year.

Police left out an allegation that former Dongjak district lawmakers gave Kim’s side 30 million won before the 2020 general election. Investigators reportedly found no evidence that Kim directly participated in the transfer. An allegation involving employment recommendations to cryptocurrency exchanges Bithumb and Dunamu was also excluded.

The investigation began last September, but Kim’s first questioning came only in February, five months later. Seven rounds of questioning ended in April, yet the case continued for another five months without a clear follow-up. A Seoul police review committee eventually called for swift action within a month. Lawyer Yang Hong-seok said the yearlong investigation without detention had weakened the grounds for seeking custody and could invite accusations of a face-saving measure. Police responded that the case required time because of its intense public attention, evidence collection and legal review.

If prosecutors request the warrant, parliament must first approve an arrest consent motion because Kim is a sitting lawmaker protected by parliamentary immunity. The motion requires a majority of lawmakers present and voting, after which a court will decide whether to issue the warrant.

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It took time to secure evidence and review the legal issues in order to conduct a thorough investigation amid intense public interest.