[Anchor]

As police investigations into various allegations surrounding independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee have stalled for nearly a year, calls for convening a police investigation review committee are mounting. Controversy is growing as police leadership repeatedly states that more time is needed to review the case.

Here is a report from reporter Jeong Jiyeon.

[Reporter]

A former aide, identified as A, who previously exposed 13 allegations against independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, submitted an application for the convening of an investigation review committee to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency this afternoon (the 3rd).

In the application, A stated, "The intentional delay in the investigation has reached a level that can no longer be overlooked," adding, "It is necessary to review whether the failure to apply for an arrest warrant is due to other circumstances, such as leadership monitoring those in power."

Previously, a civic group that filed a complaint over allegations including Kim's second son's intervention in a transfer admission to Soongsil University also recently requested an investigation review, stating, "It raises suspicions that the delay is caused by circumstances other than investigative capability."

Such consecutive requests to convene an investigation review committee come as the police have been unable to reach a decision for 11 months, let alone announce investigation results or decide whether to seek an arrest warrant for Lawmaker Kim.

Summon-based questioning has taken place a total of seven times, with the last occurring in last April. At the time, Lawmaker Kim remarked:

[Kim Byung-kee / Independent Lawmaker (Last April): It seems like I am being called in too often, but anyway, I will faithfully explain myself. Is there any reason why an arrest warrant would be requested?]

During a regular press briefing today, National Office of Investigation chief Hong Seok-ki responded to reporters' questions asking whether the police lacked competence, saying, "The investigation has been sorted out in broad terms," but added, "The more important a case is, the more thorough the review must be to prevent frequent demands for supplementary investigations from the prosecution."

[Kwak Jun-ho / Criminal Law Attorney: It seems to be related to the willingness to investigate. The Kim Byung-kee case itself is not extraordinarily complex. Once you question the relevant individuals, the facts come to light quite quickly.]

The police recently decided not to forward various cases involving independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who had been accused of workplace abuse against aides and fragmented political donations, citing insufficient evidence to sustain charges.

While police leadership continues to emphasize cautious judgment, concerns are growing over the investigative capabilities of the police, who are tasked with handling power-related corruption cases ahead of the scheduled abolition of the prosecution service in October.

(Video Editing: Kim Jong-tae, Design: Lee Jun-ho)