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Police place travel ban on DP lawmaker after illicit payment allegations

Published: 14 Jan. 2026, 20:50

Former Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-kee is seen during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul on Dec. 30, 2025. [LIM HYUN-DONG]

Police on Wednesday imposed a travel ban on liberal Democratic Party Rep. Kim Byung-kee over allegations that he accepted illicit payments in connection with his party nomination.

The travel ban applies to five people: Kim; his wife, identified only by her surname Lee; Lee Ji-hee, vice chair of the Dongjak District council and known to be close to Kim; and two former Dongjak District council members who wrote a petition claiming they had handed money to Kim.

Kim is suspected of receiving 10 million won ($6,800) and 20 million won, respectively, from the two former council members ahead of the 2020 general election, then returning the money. Lee is believed to have been involved in delivering the cash.

Kim’s side has reportedly strongly denied the allegations, calling them “a baseless smear raised ahead of the general election.”

Police on the same day conducted raids at six locations — including Kim’s home, his constituency office, his office at the National Assembly members’ office building, Lee’s home and the Dongjak District council and the home of Kim’s second son — and secured relevant materials.

Police are expected to analyze the seized evidence and summon Kim for questioning once the initial review is completed.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG HYE-JEONG [[email protected]]