Seoul city council member Kim Kyung, who is suspected of delivering 100 million won in nomination bribes to independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, is expected to be questioned by police immediately after returning from the United States.
According to police and others on the 11th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crimes Investigation Unit plans to summon Kim as a suspect as early as the 12th. Police received notice that Kim would return via Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 12th and have been coordinating the summons schedule.
Kim is suspected of delivering 100 million won to Kang, who was then a nomination management committee member of the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul chapter, ahead of the 2022 local elections.
Kim recently submitted a handwritten statement to police saying she "handed 100 million won to Kang's side and later got it back." This matches Kang's explanation that, after learning of the cash exchange, Kang instructed that the money be returned to Kim.
However, Kang's former aide, who was identified as brokering the nomination bribe, is said to have taken the position 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 actually 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 also indications that she left and rejoined KakaoTalk, prompting suspicions of evidence destruction.
Police say that as soon as Kim returns, they will impose an overseas travel ban and proceed with the investigation as quickly as possible.