A former aide to independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who was identified as having received and kept 100 million won in "nomination donation" from Seoul City Council member Kim Kyung's side, appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 6th.
The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency around 7 a.m. that day summoned Kang's former aide, identified as A, as a suspect and is under investigation. A is suspected of having received 100 million won in cash from Kim's side and keeping it.
According to a previously released recording, Kang said in an Apr. 2022 call with former Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Kim Byung-kee that City Council member Kim knew in advance about Kang's cutoff (nomination disqualification) and called A. Kang added, "Representative (Kim Byung-kee), please save me."
Kim, the former floor leader, said, "Isn't it that the office director (A) was keeping the 100 million won that was received?" and Kang replied, "Right. I just didn't think anything of it." The implication is that A received the money and Kang did not know.
In a recent statement, Kang also said, "I received a report from A (regarding the 100 million won) and reported it to the former floor leader Kim, who was the secretary of the nomination management committee at the time," adding, "I repeatedly ordered the money returned and confirmed that it was returned."
However, contrary to Kang's claim, A has recently denied to people around them, saying, "I have never received any money." A also was quoted as saying, "There is no problem, so I will comply with the police investigation."
After the allegations surfaced, Kang left the Democratic Party of Korea, saying Kang would not add further burden. However, the party's ethics inspection team found minutes showing that during the nomination management committee meeting at the time, Kang said, "We should give a single-candidate nomination to City Council member Kim," and in fact Kim received a single-candidate nomination and was elected. The party leadership judged that Kang gave a false explanation and expelled Kang.