The South Korean police have launched an investigation into the son of a member of the National Assembly who received an enormous amount of severance pay from a company at the center of a major land development scandal. 

The Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency on Thursday announced the launch of a probe into now-independent lawmaker Kwak Sang-do’s son following a complaint filed by a civic group. 

In a recent filing of accusations, the civic group said the severance pay of five billion won given to a 32-year-old, is more than what many CEOs can expect to receive after 20 to 30 years of service at large-sized companies, calling it preposterous. 

The money, they argued, must have been given as a bribe for the lawmaker. 

They also called on police to probe thoroughly on what the company, Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management, received from the lawmaker in return and what role the lawmaker played in the process.