Kim Kyung, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member accused of handing over 1 billion won in nomination donations to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who belonged to the Democratic Party of Korea at the time of the 2022 local elections, returned to Korea on the 11th via Incheon International Airport.
The commercial flight from Las Vegas, which Kim was on, landed at Incheon International Airport at 6:37 p.m. after a delay of about two hours. It was 11 days since departure.
Appearing at the airport arrivals hall around 7:16 p.m. wearing a black hat, Kim did not answer any of the reporters' questions, including "Do you admit the charge of handing over 1 billion won in nomination donations?" "Why did you submit a written statement?" and "Why did you return early?" She only said briefly, "I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation," before exiting through a staff-only door.
The Public Security Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which is currently investigating the case, plans to immediately transfer Kim for questioning through a voluntary accompaniment procedure. Police plan to apply for an overseas travel ban on Kim.
Kim is suspected of delivering 1 billion won to Rep. Kang, who was a nomination screening committee member of the Seoul chapter of the Democratic Party of Korea, ahead of the 2022 local elections.
Kim recently submitted to police a written statement to the effect that "1 billion won was handed to Rep. Kang's side and was later returned." This matches Rep. Kang's explanation that, after recognizing the exchange of money, instructions were given to return the funds to Kim.
However, a former aide to Rep. Kang who was pointed to as brokering the nomination donation is said to maintain that they know nothing about it.
Kim left for the United States on the 31st, saying she was going to see her child. It is reported that she did not meet the child. Instead, Kim was spotted attending the IT home appliance exhibition "CES 2026" held in Las Vegas on the 6th (local time).
While staying in the United States, Kim also left and rejoined Telegram twice. There are indications she also left and rejoined KakaoTalk, raising suspicions of evidence destruction.
Meanwhile, the Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it has been conducting searches and seizures since 5:30 p.m. at the homes of Rep. Kang, who is suspected of bribery, former secretary-general Nam, and Kim.
This is the first time police have launched a compulsory investigation since allegations of nomination donations involving Reps. Kim Byung-kee and Kang Sun-woo emerged late last year.