Police launched a compulsory investigation into independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, a former chief of staff for Kang, and Seoul City Council member Kim Kyung over alleged bribery for nominations. It comes 13 days after the release on the 29th of a recording between Kang and Kim Byung-kee brought the allegations to light.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's public crime investigation unit said it began a search and seizure at 5:30 p.m. on the 11th at the homes of Kang, who is suspected of bribery, former chief of staff Nam, and City Council member Kim. Police also included Kang's National Assembly office in the members' office building and Kim's Seoul City Council office among the search targets.
Police plan to secure related materials such as their mobile phones and PCs. For Kim, who returned to the country on this day, authorities plan to have Kim observe the home search and then summon Kim for questioning.
Kang is suspected of receiving 100 million won from City Council member Kim, delivered through former chief of staff Nam in exchange for a nomination ahead of the 2022 local elections. City Council member Kim recently submitted a written statement to police saying that Kim "handed 100 million won to Kang's side and later got it back." This matches Kang's prior explanation that, after learning of the money exchange, Kang instructed that the money be returned to City Council member Kim.
However, Kang's former aide, who was named as a broker of the nomination donation, is said to maintain that this was something the aide knew nothing about.
This is the first time police have moved to a compulsory investigation since allegations of nomination donations involving Kim Byung-kee and Kang Sun-woo surfaced separately late last year.