Mounting Allegations Against Kim Byung-ki and Calls for Resignation

Kim Byung-ki, floor leader of South Korea’s Democratic Party, has come under fire due to a series of scandals involving his family and staff.

Kim Byung-ki, the floor leader (원내대표) of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, is facing intense scrutiny and pressure to resign amid a snowballing series of allegations involving favoritism toward his family and abuse of staff. Over the past weeks, several former aides have come forward with accusations that Kim exploited his official position for personal and family benefit, from special treatment by Korean Air to misuse of public funds and “dad chance” nepotism. Kim has denied any wrongdoing and refuses to step down, but public opinion has soured and even some allied politicians are urging him to take responsibility  . He plans to announce his position regarding these allegations on December 30, maintaining that “there will be no resignation” .

Overview of Allegations

Multiple whistleblower revelations from ex-staff members have surfaced, painting a picture of privileges and unethical favors obtained by Kim Byung-ki’s family, allegedly with his involvement or at his direction. The key allegations include:
• Korean Air VIP Perks: Kim’s family reportedly received special airport “protocol” services and a free luxury hotel stay courtesy of Korean Air, arranged via Kim’s aides  . These perks were allegedly provided while Kim oversaw aviation affairs in Parliament, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
• Misuse of Public Card: Kim’s wife is accused of using a local council’s corporate credit card (meant for official expenses) for about ₩2.7 million of personal spending   in 2022. A leaked call recording suggests attempts to cover up this misuse.
• “Dad Chance” at NIS: Kim allegedly directed his parliamentary staff to assist his elder son’s work at the National Intelligence Service. His son, an NIS employee, had confidential intelligence tasks delegated to Kim’s aides – potentially violating NIS laws  .
• Reserve Duty Postponement: A former aide claims Kim instructed staff to find a way to delay his younger son’s mandatory reserve military training. The aide says he contacted the Military Manpower Administration and even arranged a license exam excuse to postpone the training , an act that could violate the Reserve Forces Act.
• Crypto Job Quid Pro Quo: Kim is accused of securing his second son a job at crypto exchange Bithumb and in return using his legislative position to attack Bithumb’s rival Upbit (run by Dunamu) in a National Assembly session  . This includes claims that a National Assembly question Kim asked in February 2025 criticizing Upbit’s market dominance was a favor to Bithumb after it hired his son.

Below, each of these allegations is examined in detail along with Kim Byung-ki’s responses and the political fallout.

Korean Air VIP Treatment and Hotel Voucher Controversy

One of the earliest revelations was that Kim’s family received VIP treatment from Korean Air, including expedited airport services and a complimentary hotel stay. According to a Hankyoreh investigative report, Kim’s aides coordinated with Korean Air staff to arrange special “protocol services” for Kim’s wife, daughter-in-law, and infant grandchild during their flights in 2023  . Leaked messenger chats show an aide sending the family’s ticket details to an airline contact and Korean Air arranging for a station manager to assist the family at Hanoi Airport and access to first-class check-in counters and lounges at Incheon, even though they held economy tickets  . In November 2023, before Kim’s wife flew to Vietnam, an airline official provided instructions for using the exclusive Prestige class facilities despite her economy-class booking  .

This came to light alongside news that Kim had accepted a Korean Air hotel voucher in late 2024, which he used for a ₩1.6 million stay at Jeju’s KAL Hotel . As a member of the parliamentary Land and Transport Committee (which oversees aviation), his acceptance of such perks raised ethical red flags. Kim publicly apologized on Dec. 24 for the controversy, admitting that “regardless of the circumstances, it was inappropriate” to accept the hotel invitation . He insisted, however, that the situation was being distorted by disgruntled former aides. Kim claimed that an aide had on their own initiative offered to request airport conveniences for his family, and that his wife ultimately “did not actually use the prestige lounge” during travel . The aide in question disputes this, retorting that such arrangements would not have been made “if there was no instruction” from Kim .

Kim has characterized the whistleblowers’ accounts of the Korean Air perks as exaggerated or malicious. He released chat logs purportedly from the “Yeouido Matdori” Telegram group of his ex-staff, accusing those former aides of mocking him and his family and seeking revenge after he fired them  . “Words and help exchanged in mutual trust have now been rebranded as ‘abuse of power’,” Kim wrote, arguing that the whistleblowers are twisting facts . Despite his denials, the optics of a senior lawmaker obtaining luxury travel favors for family members have drawn heavy criticism even within his own party. Kim’s initial apology did little to stem the outrage  , and further allegations soon emerged.

Wife’s Misuse of Public Funds (Corporate Card Scandal)

Another serious allegation involves Kim Byung-ki’s wife and the misuse of a government-funded credit card. In mid-2022, Kim’s wife (identified as Ms. Lee) allegedly obtained the official 법인카드 (corporate expense card) of a Seoul Dongjak District council vice-chair and charged roughly ₩2.7 million of personal expenses to it over several weeks  . A recorded phone call from August 2022 – obtained by Hankyoreh – captures the council vice-chair explaining that from July 12 to August 26, 2022, Kim’s wife used the card for the bulk of the vice-chair’s allotted “business promotion” budget . In the call, the vice-chair says “I spent ₩1.18 million, and madam (Kim’s wife) spent around ₩2.70 million”, indicating Kim’s spouse used the majority of the funds . The card was used at upscale restaurants in Yeouido and elsewhere for what appear to be personal meals  .

The recorded conversation also suggests a cover-up attempt. The councilman and Kim’s aide discussed concerns about CCTV footage possibly showing Mrs. Lee swiping the card, and they coordinated their stories in case of an investigation  . The vice-chair was prepared to falsely claim he had used the card himself (despite evidence to the contrary), even expressing worry, “What if they secure footage of madam at the cashier?” . They went so far as to plan retroactively visiting the restaurants to create fake records of official use .

Kim Byung-ki’s camp has responded that this issue was already investigated and closed. They state that in April 2024 the case was dropped with no charges , implying authorities found no prosecutable offense. However, with the new evidence (like the recordings) surfacing publicly, the matter has been reignited. On Dec. 28, 2025, a civic group filed a police complaint to re-investigate Kim’s wife for embezzlement or improper use of public funds . Even some progressive allies note that if true, “using an official budget card for personal purposes is a serious crime”, comparing it to scandals involving former President Yoon’s wife . The police in Seoul’s Dongjak district have confirmed they are reviewing the new complaint. Kim maintains that his wife did nothing illegal, reiterating that the previous inquiry found no wrongdoing .

“Dad Chance” Allegation: Aides Assisting Son’s NIS Duties

Kim Byung-ki’s elder son, who works for South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), is at the center of another nepotism scandal. Former aide testimony and text messages suggest that Kim had his parliamentary staff assist with his son’s intelligence-gathering work – an inappropriate blurring of lines between national security duties and a legislator’s office. In August 2024, Kim allegedly phoned one of his aides and said, “Please help my son a bit with his work,” after which the aide got in touch with Kim’s son . The son then sent the aide a series of requests via text message related to an intelligence matter .

Specifically, the NIS officer son asked the aide to confirm information about a supposed visit by Indonesia’s President-elect to Hanwha Group facilities in Korea . He messaged detailed questions for the aide to investigate, such as “Does Hanwha have any briefing or tour programs ready for a VIP visit?”, “What is Hanwha’s stance on the visit?”, and “Any business proposals to offer the VIP?” . He apologized for the sudden request and stressed it was urgent, saying his superiors wanted answers by 1 p.m. that day . The parliamentary aide dutifully contacted Hanwha Group on the son’s behalf, even copying some of the questions verbatim, to ask if any such visit was planned . Hanwha’s response was that no visit was scheduled, which the aide reported back to Kim’s son .

This episode is problematic because it indicates the son shared non-public NIS intelligence (about a possible foreign leader’s visit) with an unauthorized person (the aide), and Kim facilitated this by enlisting his staff. At the time, the information about the Indonesian President-elect potentially visiting was not public knowledge, and indeed no such visit occurred . If true, this could constitute a violation of the National Intelligence Service Act, which forbids NIS personnel from leaking intel or outsourcing their duties . The aide involved noted that Kim’s son worked in the NIS economics division and frequently had to prepare reports on how major Korean companies view international developments . It became routine enough that companies grew puzzled by the odd questions coming from a lawmaker’s office; the aide would explain “the congressman’s son is at NIS and needs this info”, which usually made the companies cooperative .

Kim Byung-ki’s defense has been to distance himself, claiming “I am not aware of my son’s duties at NIS” . He implies he had no knowledge of any improper assistance. However, the direct involvement of his phone call and the immediacy of the aide’s actions strongly suggest Kim’s tacit approval or instruction in helping his son. This “dad chance” (a Korean term for parental favoritism) scandal reinforces the narrative of Kim blurring official lines to benefit family, feeding public criticism.

Second Son’s Reserve Military Training Postponement

The most recent accusation, emerging in late December 2025, involves Kim’s younger son and his reserve military duty. South Korean males who have completed mandatory military service must attend annual reserve training. An ex-staffer (identified as “A”) alleges that Kim Byung-ki intervened to delay his second son’s reserve training in 2022 for personal convenience . Reportedly, around September 2022, Kim’s younger son had a scheduling conflict that would prevent him from attending a required reserve drill. In response, Kim told his aide, “Find a way to postpone the training” .

The aide A claims he then contacted a Military Manpower Administration official to arrange a justification for deferral. The solution was to use a professional certification exam as an excuse. A says he printed out the son’s exam admission ticket and faxed it with other documents to the authorities to formally request the deferment . The son purportedly signed up for some certification test solely to have a valid reason to miss the reserve drill. “The exam was concocted just to skip training,” the aide asserts, calling it a probable violation of the Reserve Forces Act (which mandates truthful reasons for absence) . If an exam was taken under false pretenses for this purpose, it could indeed be illegal.

Kim Byung-ki’s office flatly denies that he ever instructed such a thing, saying he has “no memory of giving any order to postpone the training” . They offer an alternative narrative: Kim’s side claims that his second son and the aide A were close (even socializing over drinks) and that the son casually asked the aide if it was possible to delay a reserve drill . The aide allegedly responded that “there’s always a way” and took it upon himself to inquire with the MMA and handle the process . Kim’s spokesperson said the lawmaker only expressed thanks to the aide after the fact, and that this was not a directive from Kim .

This “reserve duty” allegation has further angered the public, as it suggests preferential treatment in the military obligations that ordinary citizens must fulfill strictly. It resonates in a country where avoidance or delay of military service is a highly sensitive issue. While it remains one person’s word against another’s at this point, the claim adds to the perception of Kim’s family receiving unfair advantages behind the scenes.

Cryptocurrency Job Favors: Bithumb and Upbit Issue

Another tangled allegation involves Kim’s second son’s employment and Kim’s activities in the National Assembly, pointing to a potential conflict of interest. According to a former aide’s account reported by the Kyunghyang Shinmun, Kim Byung-ki actively sought a job for his son at a major cryptocurrency exchange (Bithumb) and then used his parliamentary platform to attack Bithumb’s rival once his son was hired  .

Kim’s son (who had a background in mathematics) was hired by Bithumb as a data analysis intern around January 2025 and reportedly worked there for about six months . Whistleblower “A” claims that Kim initially tried to place his son in another company and even had aides carry the son’s résumé around to seek opportunities . When that fell through, a meeting was arranged in November 2024 between Kim and Bithumb’s CEO, after which Bithumb posted a new internship opening seemingly tailored to the son’s qualifications (for example, explicitly preferring math majors) . The son was hired through that opening . Notably, at that time Kim sat on the National Policy Committee in Parliament, which has oversight of financial and virtual asset companies like Bithumb   – making a secret job solicitation a serious ethics breach if true.

Shortly after securing the job for his son, Kim allegedly instructed his aides to “go after” Dunamu, the company behind Upbit (the country’s largest crypto exchange and Bithumb’s chief competitor) . The aide recalls Kim “suddenly calling, saying ‘we need to attack Dunamu’” in late November 2024 and ordering staff to prepare pointed questions . In February 2025, during a National Assembly committee meeting, Kim indeed publicly grilled financial regulators about Upbit – without naming it directly – citing that one exchange had “700,000 instances of customer due diligence violations” and that the virtual asset market’s biggest problem was a single exchange’s monopolistic dominance  . These remarks closely mirrored the talking points the aide was told to prepare and conspicuously highlighted issues with Upbit, while Bithumb was not subjected to any criticism by Kim during the session  . The former aide claims Bithumb’s government relations team considered Kim’s parliamentary attack on Upbit as a successful outcome – so much so that some Bithumb staff received hefty bonuses (reportedly up to seven months’ pay) as a reward .

Kim Byung-ki has denied any corrupt deal, asserting that his queries about market monopoly in crypto exchanges were “common-sense questions” unrelated to his son’s employment . In a statement, Kim expressed “regret that [people] are linking [his] legislative activity to [his] son getting a job”, insisting his son was hired through an open recruitment process on merit  . Nevertheless, if the timeline of events is as the whistleblower describes, it suggests a disturbing quid pro quo: a lawmaker leveraging oversight power for personal favors (a job for his child) and then using his legislative influence to benefit the patron company. This allegation has drawn attention from ethics watchdogs, given that soliciting employment and trading favors could violate anti-corruption laws. It adds another layer to Kim’s mounting troubles.

Kim Byung-ki’s Response and Stance

Despite the growing list of scandals, Kim Byung-ki has remained defiant and maintains his innocence on most fronts. His approach has been twofold: apologize for appearances of impropriety in a general sense, but dispute the specifics of the allegations and attack the credibility of the accusers.
• Public Apologies: Kim has issued public apologies at least twice during this saga – first in late November (when initial reports of the Korean Air hotel voucher broke) and again on December 24 after further VIP treatment allegations . “I offer my sincere apologies… I will ensure such mistakes are not repeated,” he wrote, acknowledging fault in broad terms . However, these apologies were coupled with defensiveness, as he simultaneously insisted many claims are distorted.
• Denials and Explanations: For each specific charge, Kim’s camp has given an explanation or denial:
• On Korean Air perks: Kim says an aide arranged it on their own, and that his family didn’t actually receive undue benefits (despite evidence to the contrary) .
• On the wife’s card misuse: Kim asserts the matter was investigated and closed as baseless, implying the new uproar is just resurfacing an old issue .
• On the NIS son case: Kim claims no knowledge or involvement, effectively denying he knowingly enabled any breach .
• On the reserve training delay: Kim flatly denies ordering it and portrays the aide as acting on his own to help as a friend .
• On the crypto job quid pro quo: Kim denies any quid pro quo, framing his actions regarding Upbit as rightful scrutiny of market dominance, unrelated to his son’s job .
• Attacking Whistleblowers: Kim has taken an aggressive stance toward the former aides who leaked information. He accuses them of acting out of revenge after being dismissed for misconduct. In a Facebook post, Kim alleged these ex-staff “crossed the line” by covertly recording him and “mixing facts with lies” to malign him . He even released 12 screenshots of their private chat where they allegedly joked inappropriately and insulted his family , in order to discredit them as mere troublemakers rather than principled whistleblowers.

So far, Kim Byung-ki has resolutely refused calls to step down as floor leader. A senior aide to Kim reiterated that there is “no change in [Kim’s] stance of not resigning” despite the controversies . Kim has scheduled a press conference or public statement on December 30, 2025, where he is expected to address the various allegations in detail and argue his case . Observers note that Kim appears determined to fight the accusations rather than yield to them, likely in hopes that he can ride out the storm or cast doubt on the accusers’ motives.

Political Fallout and Calls for Resignation

Kim Byung-ki’s predicament has rapidly escalated from an internal party headache to a significant political crisis for the ruling camp. As the allegations piled up, opposition parties and even some allies have demanded Kim’s resignation from the influential floor leader position. Here’s an overview of the reactions and potential implications:
• Opposition (People Power Party): The conservative opposition has been unsparing in criticism. The PPP’s chief spokesperson lambasted Kim’s scandals, stating “none of these favoritism allegations are minor” and called for him to “immediately step down from the floor leader post and take responsibility before the people.”  The opposition argues that Kim’s alleged abuses of power completely undermine the ruling party’s moral authority. They are also likely to use Kim’s case to attack the Democratic Party ahead of upcoming elections, painting it as corrupt or nepotistic.
• Minor Allied Parties: Notably, even parties generally aligned with the ruling bloc have turned on Kim. The Progressive Party (진보당) and Cho-guk Innovation Party (조국혁신당) — small left-leaning parties often sympathetic to the government — have issued statements urging Kim to consider resigning . A spokesperson for one of these parties appealed to Kim to “show responsibility and wisdom as a key member of the governing leadership”, implicitly suggesting that clinging to his post would be selfish . Another pointed out the irony of Kim’s wife being implicated in expense misuse, asking “How is this any different from the Kim Keon-hee case?” (referring to former First Lady Kim Keon-hee’s controversies) . Such criticism from friendly quarters indicates Kim has become a liability even in the eyes of some who would normally defend the government.
• Internal Democratic Party Reactions: Within Kim’s own party, the situation is delicate. Kim Byung-ki was seen as an important figure balancing different factions in the DP, but now some colleagues privately express doubt about him continuing. The Democratic Party is broadly split between the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction (“친명”) and the pro-Jeong Cheong-rae faction (“친청”). Kim, while loyal to the party leader Jeong Cheong-rae, also had good communication with the President’s office (the Blue House), which made him a moderating force . If Kim resigns, party insiders predict a reconfiguration of this factional balance . One pro-Jeong first-term lawmaker confessed that with controversies “continuing to live on” around Kim, it’s becoming “not easy [for the party] to push forward major agendas”  (such as a highly-charged initiative to “clear remnants of insurrection,” which the DP is pursuing ). Another pro-Jeong MP suggested that party leader Jeong is “giving Kim a chance for now” rather than unilaterally removing him, indicating an internal wait-and-see approach . Meanwhile, pro-Lee Jae-myung circles likely view Kim’s troubles as an opportunity to gain more influence if he falls. Still, for many DP members, the priority is damage control: they worry that Kim’s saga is overshadowing policy efforts and giving fodder to the opposition, so behind closed doors a number of them are urging him to resolve the issue swiftly (even if that means resigning for the greater good).
• Government (President’s Office): The President’s office has so far kept distance, with a brief comment that “it’s for the party to handle on its own” . This neutral stance suggests the executive is unwilling to intervene or support Kim, implicitly leaving his fate to the political process within the party. Should Kim step down, the President would likely work with whoever succeeds him; if Kim stays, the administration may quietly sideline him if he’s seen as ineffective.
• Potential Successors: If Kim Byung-ki does relinquish the floor leader position (voluntarily or under pressure), the Democratic Party would need to elect a new floor leader to serve out the remainder of his term (Kim’s term is scheduled to run until June 2026) . Already, several senior DP lawmakers are rumored to be preparing bids behind the scenes .  Prominent names include:
• Park Jeong – a 3rd-term MP,
• Baek Hye-ryun – a 3rd-term MP,
• Han Byung-do – a 3rd-term MP,
• Jo Seung-rae – the party’s Secretary-General, and
• Lee Eon-ju – a member of the DP’s Supreme Council .
These figures (listed in Korean alphabetical order in reports) are said to be quietly contacting fellow legislators to gauge support . The competition could intensify quickly if Kim’s position becomes untenable. The choice of a new floor leader would also reflect the DP’s factional dynamics: for instance, some candidates might represent the pro-Lee bloc, others the pro-Jeong bloc. This means Kim’s downfall could tip the internal power balance, as mentioned earlier.

In sum, the political fallout from Kim Byung-ki’s scandals is significant. His case has provided ammunition to opponents, strained the unity of the ruling camp, and could alter the leadership landscape within his party. It comes at a sensitive time, with general elections on the horizon in 2028 and key legislative battles underway. The ruling DP must weigh the costs of defending Kim versus replacing him to staunch the bleeding.

Outlook: Kim’s Future Hangs in the Balance

As of the end of December 2025, Kim Byung-ki remains in his post, insisting he will not resign. He is expected to make a formal statement on December 30 to address the slew of allegations . This will be a critical moment: if his explanations fall flat or new revelations emerge, pressure could become irresistible. Some in his party privately concede “he might not hold out much longer”, given the unrelenting media and public scrutiny . Already, there is a sense that Kim’s leadership authority is badly damaged – one newspaper editorial described his leadership as “already collapsed” under the weight of “snowballing privilege and abuse of power allegations” .

Whether Kim Byung-ki can survive politically will depend on several factors: the persuasiveness of his defense, the unity (or division) of his party behind him, and the continuation (or cessation) of additional leaks from former aides. If no clear evidence of illegal wrongdoing surfaces, Kim might attempt to ride out the remainder of his term, hoping the furor dies down. However, if investigations progress – for instance, police probing his wife’s card use or authorities looking into the NIS and military service claims – the legal risks could compound his troubles.

For now, Kim has dug in his heels, declaring through aides, “there is no change in the position of not resigning.”  Yet he faces a stark reality: the court of public opinion may already have turned against him, and even allies see him as a growing liability. In South Korea’s recent political history, public outrage over ethical lapses has often forced leaders to step aside to contain the damage. The coming days will determine if Kim Byung-ki will follow that precedent or defy it against the odds.

Sources:
• DongA Ilbo (동아일보), “Kim Byung-ki, after wife and eldest son, now second son reserve duty suspicions… Successor already discussed” (Dec. 29, 2025)  .
• Hankyoreh (한겨레), on Korean Air family perks (Dec. 24, 2025)  ; on Wife’s card misuse (Dec. 26, 2025)  ; on NIS son “dad chance” (Dec. 26, 2025)  .
• Kyunghyang Shinmun (경향신문), on Bithumb job and Upbit query allegations (Dec. 28, 2025)  .
• Seoul Economic Daily (English), “Dem Floor Leader Kim Fires Back, Releases Staff Chat Logs” (Dec. 25, 2025)  .
• Additional reporting by News1, SBS, YTN, etc., as cited in-text.