Police signaled caution about opening an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party of Korea, who withdrew from consideration as justice minister amid allegations including lobbying over a clinical trial for a new drug. "If we investigate based on allegations alone, an investigation can become arbitrary," police said.
Ko Beom-seok, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, was asked at a regular press briefing at the agency's Migeun-dong headquarters in Seoul's Jongno District on the morning of Sept. 21 whether police would open an investigation into the allegations against Kim. "If we launch an investigation based only on allegations being raised, no one would be free from investigation," he said. "I think an investigation can proceed only once we have secured a reasonable amount of material that could serve as a lead."
Asked whether police could open an investigation if specific charges, dates, targets or locations were established, or if a criminal complaint were filed, he answered, "Yes." Asked whether police were taking steps to obtain a petition reportedly submitted to the Presidential Office, he said, "I expect they will take action after reviewing it on their end."
Media reports on Sept. 19, shortly after Kim stepped aside from the justice minister nomination, said former aides had delivered a petition to the Presidential Office calling for his nomination to be withdrawn. The petition was said to include allegations of past sexual harassment by Kim, efforts by aides to cover it up, and habitual verbal abuse of aides after drunk driving. Kim's side denied the contents of the petition.
Police also said they had received a total of four criminal complaints over allegations including violations of the anti-graft law, with Yeongdeungpo Police Station handling the investigation. "If the case becomes too complex for Yeongdeungpo Police Station to handle, we will consider transferring it," Ko said. On the reopened investigation into suspected lobbying over approval of a clinical trial for a new drug, police said they had received some materials, including the indictment, from the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office. Because the case has already been investigated once and a related trial is underway, police said they plan to first review the existing materials and then proceed in accordance with procedure.
A criminal complaint has also been filed against Rep. Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker who raised the allegations, on charges including leaking investigative materials, and questioning of the complainant has been completed.
