Multiple recorded audio files containing new indications of a "nomination bribery allegation" were reportedly found on a PC belonging to an associate of Seoul City Council member Kim Kyung.
According to police and others on the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit secured, by voluntary submission the previous day, a computer belonging to an associate of the city council member Kim that had been kept by the Seoul Metropolitan Council.
The computer reportedly contained numerous recorded files. Among them were said to be indications that, ahead of the 2023 by-election for Gangseo District chief, the city council member Kim sought to contact other politicians to run for the district chief post.
Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission also received a report that the city council member Kim provided money or valuables to politicians ahead of the by-election and forwarded the materials to police.
However, the city council member Kim's side told the media, "In connection with the Gangseo District chief by-election, there has been no provision of money or valuables to any politician mentioned in the recording or to anyone else for any reason," adding, "The contents reported to the election commission are a clear false accusation, maliciously edited from false information."
The city council member Kim has been under investigation for allegedly giving 100 million won to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who was then a nomination management committee member of the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul chapter ahead of the 2022 local elections, and later getting it back.