Police Apply for Warrant to Arrest Rep. Kim Byung-gi Over Alleged Connivance in Rep. Kang Sun-woo's 100 Million Won Bribery

Police have applied for a warrant to arrest independent Rep. Kim Byung-gi, who is suspected of knowing about and turning a blind eye to Rep. Kang Sun-woo's receipt of 100 million won.

The Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Regional Investigation Unit announced on the 7th that it has applied for an arrest warrant for Rep. Kim to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges including bribery and obstruction of business under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Police explained that the allegations have been substantiated by objective evidence and there is concern about destruction of evidence. This comes approximately one year after the police began their investigation in September of last year.

The warrant includes five allegations: connivance in Rep. Kang's receipt of money and valuables, preferential treatment for his second son's employment and transfer to Soongsil University, receipt of sponsorship funds from Shilla Leisure, receipt of Korean Air hotel accommodation vouchers, and misappropriation of Dongjak District Council operational funds.

Police applied the charge of obstruction of business, believing that Rep. Kim was aware of Rep. Kang's receipt of money and valuables but turned a blind eye, thereby obstructing the party's candidate nomination process. Regarding his second son's employment and transfer, police determined that the economic benefit attributable to Rep. Kim exceeded 30 million won and applied charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Rep. Kim is known to have denied most of the allegations. The prosecution will review the facts of the crime and the necessity for arrest before deciding whether to apply for a warrant from the court.