Dongjak District Council Vice Chairperson Appears Before Police Over Alleged Involvement in Kim Byungki Nomination Fund Scandal

The police investigating the alleged acceptance of nomination funds by independent lawmaker Kim Byungki have summoned Lee Jihee, Vice Chairperson of the Dongjak District Council, who is known to be a close associate of Kim.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit called in Vice Chairperson Lee as a suspect for questioning at around 2:00 p.m. on January 21, 2026.

Arriving at the police station at approximately 1:49 p.m. that day, Lee headed straight to the interrogation room without responding to reporters' questions such as, "Did you demand nomination funds under the instruction of Kim Byungki's wife?" and "Why did you return the nomination funds after receiving them?"

Vice Chairperson Lee is accused of collecting nomination funds from Dongjak District Council members in 2020-Kim's constituency-and delivering them to Kim's wife, in violation of the Political Funds Act.

The police are expected to focus their questioning on whether Lee acted under Kim's instructions regarding the funds delivered at the time. On January 14, the police conducted searches and seizures at six locations, including Kim's residence, his constituency office, his office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Lee's residence, the Dongjak District Council, and Kim's second son's residence, securing related materials.

Previously, former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sujin revealed that at the end of 2023, former Dongjak District Mayor Lee Changwoo and several former Dongjak District Council members had submitted a petition detailing the provision of money and valuables. The petition stated that, ahead of the 2020 general election, Vice Chairperson Lee demanded election funds from former Dongjak District Council members A and B to be delivered to Kim's side. A and B each handed over 10 million won and 20 million won, respectively, to Kim's wife, but later got the money back.

Meanwhile, Kim's camp has strongly denied the allegations, stating that they are "baseless slander raised ahead of the general election."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.