Overview
- Police say they have received 13 criminal complaints tied to former Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-kee and will begin questioning complainants this week.
- Summons have been scheduled for Justice Party district chair Lee Sang-wook on Monday and former Gangseo District Mayor Kim Tae-woo on Tuesday, according to police.
- Allegations in the complaints include cash-for-nomination claims, overlooking illicit payments linked to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, receipt of luxury hotel vouchers, pressure on Coupang regarding a former aide, an intervention in a son's university transfer, and an attempt to thwart a probe involving Kim's wife.
- Parts of the inquiry are split between the Seoul Dongjak Police Precinct and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency after earlier steps included a closed preliminary review and a petition that sat for about two months despite district council spending records that partly supported the filing.
- Democratic Party leaders apologized and pledged nomination reforms while resisting a full retrospective review, as the People Power Party pressed for a special counsel and some DP voices criticized the police response.