Key facts
- Police have applied for an arrest warrant for independent Rep. Kim Byung-kee.
- Kim is accused of bribery and obstruction of business.
- He allegedly promised legislative favors to Soongsil University, Bithumb, and a transport company.
- The favors were reportedly in exchange for his son's university transfer and employment.
- Kim previously served as the ruling Democratic Party's floor leader before resigning.
Police in Seoul have sought an arrest warrant for independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, formerly of the ruling Democratic Party, on charges of bribery and obstruction of business. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's public crimes investigation team applied for the warrant to the prosecution after a yearlong investigation that began last September.
Kim is accused of promising legislative favors to Soongsil University, the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb, and a transport system company. These alleged favors were reportedly in exchange for his second son's university transfer and subsequent employment. The investigation was prompted by media reports last year detailing Kim's alleged instructions to an aide to assist his son's university transfer.
Further accusations emerged regarding Kim's alleged requests to Bithumb and crypto exchange operator Dunamu to hire his son between September and November 2024. However, the current warrant request does not encompass allegations of vote-buying between Rep. Kang Sun-woo and Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung prior to the 2022 local elections.
Amid mounting pressure from these allegations, Kim resigned from his position as the Democratic Party's floor leader in December 2025 and subsequently left the party the following month. He now serves as an independent representative.