Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung, accused of handing over 100 million won in "nomination bribes" to lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, appeared before police. It came three days after Kim was questioned immediately upon returning from the United States.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crimes Investigation Unit summoned Kim again as a suspect on the 15th. Kim is accused of giving 100 million won to Kang's side ahead of the 2022 local elections.
Arriving around 9 a.m., Kim told reporters before questioning, "I am truly sorry for causing concern to the public," and added, "I will go in today and tell everything as it is." Kim then said, "I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation."
Kim, however, did not answer questions such as whether 100 million won was handed directly to Kang at the time.
Kim is said to have submitted to police a voluntary statement to the effect that when money was handed over at a cafe at the time, Kang and a person surnamed Nam, who was Kang's secretary-general, were present together. This conflicts with Kang's claim that Kang learned belatedly that Kim had given money to Nam and instructed that it be returned.
With the dispute taking on the shape of a truth battle, police are expected to question Kim intensively about how the money was delivered and the process of returning it. Police also plan to summon Kang for questioning as early as this week.