Lawmakers pass motion to detain Kang over nomination scandal

Feb 25, 2026, 07:46 am

		0
Independent Rep. Kang Sun-woo speaks before stepping down from the podium after the National Assembly introduced a motion to approve her arrest during the Feb. 24 plenary session. /Yonhap

The National Assembly on Feb. 24 approved a motion consenting to the arrest of independent Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who faces allegations of receiving illicit nomination funds.

In a secret ballot attended by 263 of 296 lawmakers, the motion passed with 164 votes in favor, 87 against, three abstentions and nine invalid ballots.

Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho, presenting the request, said prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office believe the charges are substantiated despite Kang’s denial. He cited witness statements, the alleged use of 100 million won, related recordings and the outcome of the party nomination process as supporting evidence. He added that the gravity of the case and concerns over possible flight or destruction of evidence justified detention.

Taking the floor before the vote, Kang denied wrongdoing. “I returned the money and returned it again. Over five occasions, I repaid a total of 322 million won,” she said. “Yet they claim I demanded 100 million won. One hundred million won is not worth staking my political life and my entire life on.”

She acknowledged poor judgment, saying, “I believed I had lived by principles, but my conduct was immature. I confess that I engaged in fashion politics, satisfied with the idea of making a better world. I did not know my own limits. I apologize.” She added, “I will not hide behind parliamentary immunity. I fear nothing in revealing the truth more clearly.”

Earlier in the day, the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party adopted a recommendation to vote in favor of the arrest motion. Assuming that all members of the conservative opposition — including the People Power Party and the New Reform Party — supported the motion, at least 30 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea appear to have voted in favor.

The Democratic Party had announced that its members would be allowed to vote freely on the motion.

After the vote, Rep. Jin Jong-oh of the People Power Party criticized what he described as internal divisions within the Democratic Party, arguing that a significant number of its lawmakers opposed the motion despite public scrutiny over the case. He also called for a thorough investigation, saying that if police inquiries prove insufficient, a special counsel probe should be considered.

#Kang Sun-woo #National Assembly #arrest motion #Democratic Party #People Power Party