Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyung, who are accused of giving and receiving 100 million won in exchange for a nomination, were indicted and put on trial in custody.
The Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Director General Kim Hyeong-won) said on the 27th that it indicted Kang and the former city council member in custody on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, breach of trust solicitation and bribery, and violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. Prosecutors also indicted, without detention, Kang's constituency aide, identified as A, on the same charges.
Prosecutors said that after receiving the case from police on the 11th, they conducted more than 20 direct interrogations, including face-to-face confrontations between suspects. They also said they gathered additional evidence, including a detailed analysis of account and forensic data, an on-site inspection at the hotel where the 100 million won was handed over, party materials related to the nomination process, and recordings of suspects' telephone conversations.
According to prosecutors, in Jan. 2022, ahead of the 8th local elections, Kang, then a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, met the former city council member at a hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and received a shopping bag containing 100 million won. The former city council member was then given a sole nomination in Gangseo-gu, Kang's constituency, and was elected. Prosecutors said Kang played a decisive role at that time.
In the case of Kang's constituency aide, identified as A, it was found that A played a key role in this case by accepting the former city council member's proposal, arranging the meeting between the two, and delivering the 100 million won in cash.
According to prosecutors, Kang used the cash received from the former city council member for personal purposes related to a real estate contract.
Prosecutors said, "We will do our utmost to maintain the indictment so that the defendants can be punished commensurate with their crimes," and added, "We will respond strictly to prevent similar cash-for-favors crimes from recurring ahead of the 9th local elections."