Kim Kyoung-soo to be questioned on opinion-rigging

Amid mounting allegations of online opinion-rigging, ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo announces his run for Gyeonggi Province governor Thursday. Yonhap

By Kim Hyun-bin

Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea has come under criticism, suspected of working with the power blogger nicknamed Druking, who has been arrested for online opinion-rigging.

“I will be running for governor of South Gyeongsang Province and urge a swift investigation of the online opinion-rigging. If needed I will fully cooperate with the independent counsel,” Kim said.

However, the lawmaker's statement came a day before new evidence surfaced and investigations show Kim has been in close contact with Druking for years.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency revealed Friday that Kim sent at least 10 messages containing links to news articles related to the President from November 2016 until last month.

Druking, known only by his surname Kim, received the messages through Telegram _ a Russia-based mobile messenger app similar to Kakao, except the messages are untraceable _ and replied, “I will take care of it” said the police.

Police have been questioning Druking in the detention center.

“Druking said in his testimony that Kim ran a group that aimed to create positive feedback online and he wanted to take part in it,” a police official said.

Druking claimed the “I'll take care of it” message to the lawmaker was related.

The police will look into Druking's involvement in the group and whether he actually used the links to create positive comments.

Police will also check if the suspect manipulated public opinion using Macro, a program frequently used to create automated repetitive sequences.

Druking and two others allegedly used the software to increase the number of clicks for articles in support of the liberal Moon Jae-in government.

“Once the investigation of Druking and his aides is completed, we will summon lawmaker Kim Kyoung-soo for questioning,” Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Lee Ju-min said. “The lawmaker provided links to Druking so we need to investigate their relationship closely.”

Police under fire

Police are under fire after a local news report, late Thursday, revealed they held back key information regarding the ruling lawmaker's involvement in the Druking case.

Commissioner Lee initially told reporters on Monday the lawmaker barely read Druking's messages and only sent formal replies such as “Thank You” to the blogger.

However, the news unveiled Kim had sent Druking at least 10 messages containing news articles related to the President, which the police acknowledged on Friday.

With local elections less than two months away, the scandal has stirred fierce political wrangling between the ruling and main opposition parties.

The police agency's blunder has fueled the opposition parties to call for a special counsel to look into the mounting allegations. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LPK) submitted bills to open a special investigation of the allegations, which they claim could have swayed voters in favor of Moon ahead of the presidential election last May.

Kim served as the chief secretary for Moon Jae-in's presidential campaign, which is also raising suspicion whether the President was aware of the activities.

“If Kim was involved, it could serve as judicial grounds to find out if then-presidential candidate Moon was aware of the activities,” said Hong Joon-pyo, leader of the LPK. “That could be the reason why the police are concealing key information of the Druking incident, and prosecutors are hesitant to take the case.”