Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who faces allegations of receiving "nomination bribes," appeared before police on the 20th. It has been about three weeks since an audio recording was released that captured a discussion between Kang and Rep. Kim Byung-kee about 100 million won they received.
Kang arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Mapo office at about 8:55 a.m. that day. "I am sorry for causing concern to the public over this matter," Kang said. "I will faithfully undergo questioning and tell the truth as it is." Kang added, "I have principles in my life, and I have lived by those principles."
Kang, however, headed to the interrogation room without answering other questions from reporters.
Kang is suspected of receiving 100 million won that Seoul City Council member Kim Kyung offered in exchange for a nomination ahead of the 2022 local elections through a former secretary-general, a person surnamed Nam. The Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency previously questioned Nam and Kim three times each.
Nam and Kim reportedly told police they met with Kang at a cafe in Apr. 2022. During this process, Kim maintains that he handed the money directly to Kang. Nam is said to have told police that he only loaded the shopping bag Kang handed over into a car and did not know it contained money.
Earlier, through social media (SNS), Kang claimed that Kang learned of the receipt of the money only after receiving a report from Nam and that Kang ordered it returned several times. The accounts of the three differ.
Police are expected to question Kang about how the money changed hands and the conflicting statements.