Kim Byeong-joo, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party. [Photo = Yonhap News]

Kim Byeong-joo, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, who is embroiled in various allegations of misconduct, has been reported to the police and is under investigation for allegedly receiving tens of millions of won from district council members. The investigation into allegations against lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who is suspected of receiving 100 million won from a city council candidate, will involve an inquiry of the complainant next week.

On the 2nd, Kim Han-mae, representative of the Citizens' Action for the Establishment of Judicial Justice, announced that he would file a complaint against Rep. Kim and two former Dongjak District Council members with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 5th, accusing them of bribery, contribution, and violation of the Political Funds Act.

Rep. Kim is accused of receiving 10 to 20 million won from two former Dongjak District Council members before the 2020 general elections and returning the money later.

Lee Soo-jin, a former lawmaker from the Democratic Party, stated in late 2023 that Lee Chang-woo, the former Dongjak District Mayor, and two former Dongjak District Council members had submitted a petition containing these facts.

According to the petition obtained by Yonhap News, the wife of former Dongjak District Council member A visited Rep. Kim's home before the Lunar New Year holiday ahead of the 2020 general elections and gave him 5 million won along with a Lunar New Year gift. However, Rep. Kim's wife allegedly returned the money, saying, "It's too much for a Lunar New Year gift and too little for a nomination fee."

A's wife later handed over 10 million won at Rep. Kim's home in March of the same year, but Rep. Kim's wife allegedly refused it, stating that more money was needed.

A few days later, a district council member close to Rep. Kim called A and said, "Give me the money I mentioned to the madam last time," prompting A to deliver 10 million won, which A claims was returned in June of the same year.

Another former Dongjak District Council member, B, visited Rep. Kim's home around the Lunar New Year holiday in 2020 and gave 20 million won in cash to Rep. Kim's wife. However, in June of the same year, Rep. Kim's wife allegedly returned the money in a shopping bag with 20 million won, saying, "Give it to your daughter," along with a bag of shrimp crackers.

The petition also included an allegation that Rep. Kim's wife had improperly used the corporate card of a Dongjak District Council member.

The former council members A and B, who wrote the petition, claimed, "The usage locations of the corporate card from July to August 2020 were mainly around Yeouido, where the madam's residence, the National Assembly, and the district office are located, while the usage locations after August were around the district office," adding, "The identity of the card user can be easily determined by checking the mobile phone location of the telecommunications company."

The petition, dated December 11, 2023, was addressed to then-Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who is now the President.

A and B wrote, "We believe this matter, if it becomes public, is not just an issue limited to Rep. Kim, but a critical issue that will determine the fate of the entire party in the upcoming general elections. Therefore, we are forwarding this information to you, Mr. Representative," and added, "We would be grateful if you would accept this with loyalty to the Democratic Party's victory."

Regarding these allegations, Rep. Kim's side reportedly strongly denies them, stating that they are "baseless slander raised before the general elections."

A petition related to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byeong-joo. [Photo = Provided by a reader of Yonhap News]  

This petition was subsequently forwarded to the Dongjak Police Station, which is investigating allegations that Rep. Kim's second son was admitted to Soongsil University through an irregular transfer.

Kim Han-mae stated, "Upon direct confirmation with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Rep. Kim has not been booked by the Dongjak Police Station in relation to the petition. Therefore, we have decided to file a separate complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency."

Separately from Kim, an online user also filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the same day, accusing Rep. Kim and former Dongjak District Council members of violations of the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

This online user posted on an online community, stating, "This case involves allegations of money being exchanged before and after the party's nomination process, and it poses a significant risk of undermining the political fund order and the fairness of candidate recommendations," urging a swift investigation.

In addition to this, the police are investigating 11 other complaints filed against Rep. Kim. Of these, 10 cases, excluding the allegation concerning his second son's admission to Soongsil University, have been assigned to the Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

On the 31st of last month, the police summoned Kim Han-mae, one of the complainants, for questioning. They inquired about the circumstances of the complaint regarding the "Coupang meal allegations" and also investigated the circumstances of the complaint regarding the "Korean Air accommodation voucher provision allegations," which was not originally planned.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, appointed to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. [Photo = Yonhap News]  

Meanwhile, the police are also investigating lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who is accused of receiving 100 million won from Kim Gyeong, a former city council candidate, and reporting this to Rep. Kim.

On the 5th at 4 PM, Lee Sang-wook, the Gangseo District Committee Chairperson of the Justice Party, and on the 6th at 2 PM, Kim Tae-woo, the former Gangseo District Mayor, will be questioned as complainants at the Seoul Gangseo Police Station and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division, respectively.

A police official stated, "Some records have not yet been transferred, and the investigation is in its early stages, including legal review."