Ruling party corruption scandal snowballs

Rep. Kim Byung-kee is seen during a plenary session of the National Assembly on Dec. 30. (Yonhap)

Corruption allegations against key ruling party members are growing, with new developments suggesting that its former floor leader may have accepted a bribe in 2020, and condoned another lawmaker's alleged acceptance of a bribe in 2022.

The developments surrounding Rep. Kim Byung-kee, the former Democratic Party of Korea floor leader, have also fanned suspicions of compliance on the part of President Lee Jae Myung and his key aide Kim Hyun-ji in past dealings with the corruption case.

Kim Han-me, who leads the Civil Movement for Juridicial Justice Reform civic group, on Monday filed criminal complaints with police against six people including Rep. Kim Byung-kee, who stepped down as floor leader on Dec. 30, and Kim Hyun-ji, who currently serves as Lee's personal secretary at Cheong Wa Dae.

The case concerns suspicions that Kim Byung-kee's family received a combined 30 million won ($20,700) from two Seoul district councilors ahead of the 2020 general election, and had the money returned at least three months later. Kim was then sitting on the party's candidate selection committee for the 2020 election.

Lee's secretary Kim Hyun-ji was accused of abetting the embattled lawmaker by allegedly neglecting a related petition submitted in 2023. Lee was chair of the ruling party at the time, and Kim Hyun-ji worked as his aide.

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Su-jin, who submitted the petition, has claimed that Kim Hyun-ji referred the case to the party's internal ethical oversight committee, only to see the petition handed over to Kim Byung-kee, who was supposed to be the subject of an internal party investigation. Lee Su-jin was not selected to run again for a parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election, leading to her decision to quit the party.

Democratic Party floor spokesperson Rep. Kim Hyun-jung on Monday confirmed Kim Hyun-ji's administrative role in handling the petition, adding the party was looking into what happened after the petition went to the party's secretariat. Floor spokesperson Kim also said Lee Su-jin's accusation was an uncorroborated claim by an individual.

The main opposition People Power Party called for a bill to appoint a special counsel to look into the corruption cases, countering the Democratic Party, which views the cases as individuals' misbehavior while playing down the chances of an all-out investigation.

"This is not the misbehavior of an individual, but a deep-rooted cartel of bribery in candidate nominations," People Power Party chair Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok said Monday.

Suspecting President Lee of being at the top of the cartel, People Power Party floor leader Rep. Song Eon-seog said investigations into such cases "cannot be handled by the police."

Kim Han-me (left), who leads a civic group Civil Movement for Juridicial Justice Reform, and Lee Sang-wook, who leads Gangseo-gu chapter of Justice Party, appear at the police station to file accusations linked to the recent revelation of the Democratic Party's alleged political corruption on Monday. (Newsis)

Kim Byung-kee faces more than a dozen accusations, including that which ultimately forced him to step down from the party's leadership position.

He is suspected of abetting a fellow lawmaker who allegedly exerted influence over which candidate the party would select to represent it in an election, in return for money from the candidate.

Rep. Kang Sun-woo was expelled from the party Thursday following revelations that her secretary had received 100 million won from Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung before she was nominated as the party's sole candidate for the councilor seat and won the 2022 local elections. Both Kim Byung-kee and Kang were members of the party's candidate selection committee for the 2022 elections.

As police began investigating Kang's case Monday, Lee Sang-wook told reporters an all-out investigation is needed to stamp out such "structural problems" where powerful figures pursued illicit gain from election hopefuls. He also demanded that both Kang and Kim Kyung retire from their position as legislators. Lee Sang-wook, a member of the progressive Justice Party, had appeared for questioning as a complainant.

Cho Kuk, chair of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, echoed views that the revelations should not be seen as the misbehavior of individuals.

"(The Democratic Party) should not just bow its head and say 'we will improve,' after removing a few problematic figures," Cho said.

As pressure and allegations mounted, Kim Byung-kee denied all allegations ranging from graft to bribery, and has stated that he will not leave the party voluntarily.

"I'm truly sorry (about the recent revelations), but I do not want to link this matter to my departure from the party," the lawmaker said in an interview with News Tomato. "I would rather face expulsion, and will not resign from the party on my own."

Influential Democratic Party lawmaker Rep. Park Jie-won said in a separate interview Monday, "It is time for the party to make a decision if Kim insists that he is innocent."