Kim Kyung, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member embroiled in the "nomination donation allegations," was questioned by police on the 11th immediately after returning to Korea. Kim, who had flown to the United States after the allegations surfaced, sparking controversy over fleeing, was searched upon arriving in the evening and then immediately appeared before police.
Kim is suspected of delivering 100 million won to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who was then a nomination committee member of the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul chapter, ahead of the 2022 local elections.
Kim arrived at Incheon International Airport at 6:37 p.m. on a commercial flight from Las Vegas, United States, the same day. Appearing at the arrivals hall around 7:16 p.m., Kim had a mobile phone seized on the spot by police.
Afterward, Kim observed a search and seizure of the residence and, at 11:10 p.m., appeared before the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit Public Crime Investigation Division, which is currently investigating the case. It is the first full-fledged questioning in 13 days since the recording containing the nomination donation allegations was made public on the 29th of last month.
Police were said to be likely to conduct an overnight interrogation of Kim. In particular, based on a written statement Kim recently submitted, they plan to focus on the circumstances and purpose of delivering money to Rep. Kang's side and the process that led to the claim that it was later returned.
Kang said on the 31st of last month that "upon becoming aware of the cash delivery, an immediate return was ordered." However, a former aide to Kang, identified as a person surnamed Nam and pointed to as the conduit of the return order, reportedly denied in a police inquiry that any money was received.
At Incheon Airport, when asked by reporters, "Do you acknowledge handing 100 million won in nomination donations to Rep. Kang?" Kim answered, "I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation." Asked why Kim left for the United States while the investigation was underway, Kim said, "It was something promised long ago."
From 5:30 p.m. that day, police carried out simultaneous searches and seizures of Kang's residence and office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Kim's residence and council research office, and the residence of Kang's former aide Nam. The warrants cited three identical charges: violations of the Political Funds Act, bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Kim left the country on the 31st, two days after a complaint related to the nomination donation allegations was filed on the 29th of last month, to visit a child staying in the United States. On the 6th local time, Kim was also spotted attending the consumer electronics show "CES 2026" in Las Vegas.
Police, viewing Kim's repeated leaving and rejoining of a Telegram account as potential evidence destruction, obtained a communications warrant and are checking related details.
The allegations surfaced after recordings of Rep. Kim Byung-kee, then a secretary of the Democratic Party's Seoul nomination committee, and committee member Rep. Kang were released. In the recordings, Kang discussed response measures while mentioning indications that staff received money from Kim. Kim was later given a sole nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul Metropolitan Council in Gangseo District.
After completing the questioning of Kim, police plan to soon conduct additional questioning of Rep. Kang and Rep. Kim Byung-kee.