Police Warrant Says Kim Byung-kee and Wife Used Corporate Card Together

Police reportedly described a husband-and-wife use of a local council business card in the arrest warrant sought for independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s public-sector crime unit submitted the warrant application to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office the previous day.

The warrant allegedly states that Kim and his wife, identified by her surname Lee, used the business card several times in areas including Seoul’s Yeouido in 2022. At the time, the card belonged to Jo Jin-hee, then vice chair of the Dongjak District Council.

Lee faces suspicion of using Jo’s corporate card to pay about 1.59 million won for meals and other private expenses between July and September 2022. Police reportedly concluded during their investigation that Kim, as well as his wife, had used the card and listed both of them in connection with alleged occupational embezzlement.

The allegations involving Lee’s use of a corporate card emerged after former Dongjak council members’ petitions became public. They alleged that Kim’s side had received and later returned 30 million won in nomination money before the 2020 general election. Police also reportedly calculated the alleged bribery amount related to claims of preferential treatment in Kim’s second son’s employment and university transfer at more than 60 million won.