Seoul city council member Kim Kyung, who is implicated in "bribery for nominations," was questioned by police on the 11th immediately after returning to Korea. Kim, who departed for the United States after the allegation surfaced and faced criticism for fleeing, was searched upon arrival this evening and then went straight to the police.
Kim is accused of delivering 100 million won to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who was a member of the Democratic Party of Korea Seoul chapter's nomination committee 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, that day. Appearing at the arrivals hall at about 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 Team, which is currently investigating the case. It was the first full-fledged questioning in 13 days since the recording containing the nomination bribery allegation was released on the 29th.
Police are widely expected to question Kim overnight. In particular, based on a recent written statement submitted by Kim, they plan to focus on the background and purpose of delivering money to Rep. Kang's side, and the process that led to the claim that the funds were later returned.
Kang said on the 31st, "I became aware of the cash delivery and immediately ordered it returned." However, a former aide to Kang, a person surnamed Nam who was identified as the person who conveyed the return order, reportedly denied in a police interview that money had been received.
At Incheon Airport, when asked by reporters, "Do you acknowledge giving 100 million won to Rep. Kang?" Kim said, "I will faithfully comply with the investigation." Asked why Kim left for the United States while the investigation was underway, Kim said, "It was promised a long time ago."
Starting at 5:30 p.m. that day, police carried out simultaneous searches of Kang's residence and office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Kim's residence and council research room, and the residence of Kang's former aide, Nam. The search warrant listed three identical charges: violation of the Political Funds Act, bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Kim left the country on the 31st, two days after the related complaint was filed on the 29th, 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 withdrawals from and rejoining of a Telegram account as possible evidence destruction, obtained a communications warrant and are checking the details.
The allegation surfaced after a recording between Kim Byung-kee, then secretary of the Democratic Party's Seoul chapter nomination committee, and committee member Rep. Kang was released. In the recording, Kang discussed response measures while mentioning indications that the lawmaker's staff had received money from Kim. Kim was later nominated as the sole Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Seoul City Council in Gangseo District.
After completing the questioning of Kim, police plan to soon conduct additional questioning of Rep. Kang and Kim Byung-kee.