Court detains Kang Sun-woo, ex-city councilor in bribery probe

Mar 04, 2026, 09:54 am

		0
Former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung (left) and independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo appear at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on March 3 for a pretrial detention hearing over allegations of a 100 million won nomination bribery case. / Yonhap

Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung were arrested Tuesday over allegations that they exchanged 100 million won (about $75,000) in illicit funds related to a party nomination ahead of local elections.

According to legal authorities, a judge at the Seoul Central District Court issued arrest warrants for the two suspects, citing concerns that they might destroy evidence.

The pair are suspected of violating the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

Alleged payment before local elections

Prosecutors allege that in January 2022, about five months before local elections, Kim met Kang at a hotel in Yongsan, Seoul and handed over 100 million won in cash placed inside a shopping bag.

Kim was later nominated as the sole candidate for a Seoul city council seat in Gangseo District — Kang’s constituency at the time — and went on to win the election.

Conflicting statements during investigation

During the investigation, the two suspects maintained different positions.

Kim initially left for the United States after the investigation began and returned 11 days later. He later submitted a written confession and cooperated with investigators.

Kang denied wrongdoing, saying she had received the shopping bag but did not realize it contained money.

“I accepted the shopping bag but did not know it contained cash,” Kang said, adding that she returned the money after discovering it.

Investigation expected to accelerate

Police launched the probe after media reports last December revealed a recorded conversation involving Kang and Kim Byung-kee, who had served as a secretary of the nomination management committee of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Investigators requested arrest warrants on Feb. 5, and the National Assembly approved a motion allowing Kang’s arrest later that month.

With both suspects now detained, authorities are expected to expand the investigation into additional allegations surrounding the nomination process.

#Kang Sun-woo #Kim Kyung #nomination bribery