By Bahk Eun-ji
Former vice justice minister Kim Hak-ui has been banned from leaving the country because of allegations he received sexual services in return for providing favors to a contractor, police said Wednesday.
A number of high-profile figures, including former and incumbent high-ranking government officials and the head of a hospital, allegedly received sexual services from about a dozen women hired by the 52-year-old construction contractor, Yoon Jung-cheon.
Kim has denied any wrongdoing but resigned on March 21, six days after he took office. The police have investigated the contractor who used his luxury house to host government officials and other high-profile figures including Kim, treating them to golf games and sexual services.
In return, the contractor sought favors on various building projects, and sometimes blackmailed his guests after secretly recording them having sex.
Weve secured some evidence of illegal activities Yun committed and requested the Ministry of Justice impose a travel ban on Kim and the ministry agreed, the police said.
The police also raided the villa located in Wonju, Gangwon Province, at the end of March to collect evidence, and are also looking for video footage showing intimate encounters between the figures and a woman hired by Yun to provide sexual services in his car.
The police said Kim is not a suspect yet but a subject of investigation, and they plan to summon him if necessary.
Police have requested travel bans on 12 people implicated in the case in March.