Ruling party floor leader quits as nomination scandal triggers new turmoil

Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea announces his resignation as floor leader at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea stepped down as floor leader Tuesday, bowing to intensifying public uproar over alleged preferential treatment involving his family and, most recently, explosive claims linking him to a 100 million won ($74,000) payment made during the 2022 local election nomination process.

“Today, I will resign as the Democratic Party’s floor leader,” Kim said during a leadership meeting at the National Assembly. “At a time when I stand at the center of ongoing allegations being raised day after day, I can only become a burden to the Democratic Party and the Lee Jae Myung administration.”

Kim apologized “in deep humility,” conceding that his behavior “fell far short of public expectations and standards.”

“My position is not what matters,” he continued. “As long as I remain at the center of unending allegations, I can only hinder the Democratic Party and the success of the Lee Jae Myung government.”

While Kim has long been engulfed in accusations ranging from improper benefits to abuse of power, it was the nomination-cash scandal that cemented pressure on him to leave.

On Monday, broadcaster MBC reported the existence of a leaked audio file recorded in 2022. In the recording, Democratic Party Rep. Kang Sun-woo — who at the time served on the party's Seoul nomination committee, the body responsible for vetting and selecting the party’s official candidates in local elections — is heard discussing the alleged transfer of 100 million won from Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyung, who was seeking to secure the party’s nomination as the sole candidate in his district.

Kim Byung-kee, who was then the deputy head of the committee, has been accused of being informed of the transaction but failing to take action.

Kim Kyung was nominated the day after the meeting, raising suspicions that party nomination committee's authority was misused for financial gain. All three involved have denied wrongdoing.

The revelations heightened internal alarm that Kim’s continued leadership could derail the Lee Jae Myung administration’s core legislative agenda — including prosecutorial reform and livelihood policies — and weaken the ruling bloc’s credibility on governance.

The Democratic Party is now grappling with fresh fallout as Chair Jung Chung-rae on Tuesday afternoon ordered the party's ethics inspection team to probe Kang regarding the alleged payment. However, questions have been raised over why Kim Byung-kee and Kim Kyung were not initially included in the same directive.

Kim Byung-kee's decision comes as a wave of allegations against him — many involving his family — continues to deepen public dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s discipline and ethical standards.

Recent claims raised by a former aide include accusations of undue privileges and abuse of authority, suggesting Kim Byung-kee wielded his parliamentary influence for personal and familial benefit. Observers say some allegations could warrant a criminal investigation if substantiated, raising concerns that public office was treated as a private asset.

There are also allegations concerning the employment of Kim Byung-kee’s younger son at a cryptocurrency trading firm. Critics claim Kim met with the company’s government affairs officials and then instructed his aides to submit parliamentary questions critical of rival firms — actions allegedly followed by a favorable hiring outcome for his son, who is majoring in mathematics.

The younger son has already faced scrutiny over his university transfer process and is accused of relying on parliamentary aides to help delay his reserve military training.

Kim’s elder son is the subject of separate allegations. An audio recording suggests Kim’s wife sought favors from a senior official at the National Intelligence Service during his hiring process. Additional claims suggest aides were improperly directed to support the son’s intelligence-related tasks.

Kim’s wife is also accused of personally using a district council vice chair’s corporate expense card — reportedly amounting to over 2 million won — after the 2022 local elections.

Kim himself is under fire for allegedly receiving prohibited benefits, including a luxury meal provided by a former Coupang chief and a set of prepaid travel vouchers from Korean Air that funded his family’s stay at a high-end hotel on Jeju Island.

Another accusation asserts that Kim asked a staff member to confirm whether Indonesia’s president-elect intended to visit Hanwha Group and then relayed the information to his son employed at the NIS — raising concerns of improper access to corporate intelligence.

The main opposition People Power Party had demanded that Kim be held accountable, insisting his actions are serious enough to warrant stepping down from the National Assembly entirely.

Members of the Democratic Party have also reportedly expressed worries that the situation was eroding party discipline and diverting focus from legislative priorities. Senior party figures, including leader Jung Chung-rae, have been following the developments closely.

Kim said Tuesday he hopes legislative efforts promised by the party — particularly economic and reform bills — will continue unaffected.

“I will take full responsibility for all processes and outcomes that follow,” he said. “I sincerely apologize once again for causing such grave concern.”

Opposition lawmakers have urged Kim to resign from the National Assembly entirely, accusing him of treating public office as a private asset.

Under party rules, the Democratic Party must elect a new floor leader within one month. Observers say the vote could become a high-stakes test of factional power between camps aligned with President Lee and Chair Jung Chung-rae — a political fault line that Kim’s scandal has now widened.