Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary-General of the Committee for the People's Livelihood, enters the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division to undergo questioning as a complainant regarding 13 allegations, including the receipt of nomination funds, involving Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-ki. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The police summoned and questioned officials from a civic group that filed complaints against Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-ki regarding various allegations.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division summoned Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary-General of the Committee for the People's Livelihood (Min-wi), to its Mapo building at 1:30 PM on the 7th to conduct complainant questioning. 

Previously, Min-wi filed complaints against Rep. Kim with allegations including: △receipt of nomination funds △tampering with investigations into his spouse △receipt of Korean Air airfare and demands for special treatment △lunch with the CEO of Coupang before a parliamentary audit △demands for preferential medical treatment △intervention in the recruitment of his eldest son to the National Intelligence Service △intervention in his second son's transfer to Soongsil University △intervention in his second son's recruitment to Bithumb △illegal acquisition of chat logs from Rep. Kang Sun-woo's aides △condoning the receipt of money and valuables by Rep. Kang Sun-woo.

At the building, the Secretary-General told reporters, "Putting aside Rep. Kim's 13 alleged criminal acts, his personal safety needs to be protected even for the sake of uncovering the truth," adding, "If there is an issue with Rep. Kim's personal safety, the investigation could be halted, making it difficult to reveal the truth."

He also pointed out, "Last September, I filed a complaint with the Seoul Dongjak Police Station regarding Rep. Kim's second son's transfer case and have been questioned as a witness, but the investigation has not progressed. If it had progressed more at that time, the situation would have been much better than it is now."

He continued, "It is unreasonable for a general police station or the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division to handle this investigation," and argued, "A special prosecutor should be appointed for Rep. Kim and independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo." Secretary-General Kim also stated that there is a need for a custodial investigation.

He further claimed, "The allegations and corruption involving Rep. Kim are things that about 70-80% of lawmakers have done so far. The authority of lawmakers is too extensive, so both the ruling and opposition parties should agree to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate matters that can arise from such authority."

In addition to allegations of preferential treatment by Korean Air and preferential medical treatment at Boramae Hospital, which were filed in December of last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division has also received and is investigating a transferred complaint from the Seoul Dongjak Police Station regarding allegations of preferential transfer to Soongsil University for Rep. Kim's second son, bringing the total number of cases under investigation to 13.

Min-wi Donation Account: Korea Post 010108-01-014472 

Account Holder: Committee for the People's Livelihood 

Reporter Im Yo-hee