An independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo's former aide, a key figure in the alleged 100 million won nomination bribe case, returned to police 11 days later.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit summoned Mr. Nam, a former aide to Kang, as a suspect on the morning of the 17th. Arriving at about 9:49 a.m., Nam pulled down the hood attached to his coat and lowered his head to hide his face as he entered the interrogation room.
Police appear to have recalled Nam because his account conflicted with that of Seoul City Council member Kim Kyung, identified as the provider of the 100 million won. On the 15th, police questioned Kim and received a statement that Nam was the one who proposed the nomination bribe. Ahead of the 2022 local elections, while Kim was considering where to run, Nam explained Kang's situation and demanded money.
In a previous interview, Nam reportedly acknowledged meeting with Kang and Kim but said he briefly stepped out and did not know money changed hands. He said that afterward, Kang told him to "move the item to the car," and, not knowing it was money, he put it in the trunk.
Police plan to re-verify the facts with Nam. Both Nam and Kim maintain that the nomination bribe took place at a cafe downtown and that Kang personally received the money, but Kang's explanation contradicts this.
Kang said on Facebook and elsewhere that on Apr. 20 of that year, Nam reported to Kang afterward that he had "received money from the city council member Kim." Kang has said, "I have never received any money."
Based on Nam's statements obtained that day, police also plan to examine the specificity and credibility of Kang's explanation. They plan to summon Kang for questioning on the 20th. They are not ruling out the possibility of a three-way face-to-face interrogation among Kang, Kim, and Nam.