Seoul Police Deliberation Committee Orders "Processing of Byungki Kim Case Within One Month"

Allegations Include Acquisition of Former Aide's Messenger Chats
"If Extension Is Needed, Specific Reasons Must Be Provided and Reapplied"

As the police investigation into various allegations surrounding Independent Assemblyman Kim Byung-ki has continued for nearly a year, the Police Investigation Review Committee, which includes external experts, has decided that related cases must be processed within one month.

Kim Byung-ki, Independent member of the National Assembly. Photo by Dongju Yoon

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Investigation Review Committee, at a meeting held on August 25, deliberated on two applications regarding the review of investigations related to Assemblyman Kim and decided to mandate "prompt processing within one month." The subjects of review are allegations surrounding the transfer process of Kim's second son to Soongsil University and suspicions over the acquisition and disclosure of Telegram conversations of former aides.

The Review Committee resolved, "We instruct that these cases be processed promptly within one month." However, if it is unavoidably necessary to extend the deadline, the committee recommended that specific reasons for the extension and a new deadline be provided to request additional time from the committee. The committee will rigorously review the necessity of any such extension requests that are submitted.

The Investigation Review Committee is a system under which parties involved in cases can apply for a review if they dispute the results or procedures of a police investigation, examining the thoroughness and appropriateness of the investigation. Although the outcome of the review is not legally binding, the police are expected to respect the committee's findings and implement measures such as reinvestigation or supplementary investigation if recommended.

This review was initiated in response to the prolonged nature of the investigation related to Assemblyman Kim. The police have been investigating various allegations surrounding Kim since September last year. Previously, the civic group that filed the complaint against Kim and Kim’s former aides both applied for the review, citing delays in the investigation as their reason.

The police had previously stated that the investigation into Assemblyman Kim would be concluded soon.

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