Prosecutors have indicted independent lawmaker Kang Seon-woo, a former Seoul Gangseo-gu mayoral candidate, and Kim Kyung, a former Seoul city councilor and mayoral hopeful, on charges of accepting 100 million won ($72,000) in bribes during the 2022 local elections.
Indictment Details Emerge
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Public Corruption Investigation Division 2 formally charged the pair on March 27 as accomplices in a scheme involving bribes exchanged for election agent appointments. Kang faces two counts, while Kim is charged with six.
Investigators confirmed the bribery despite the absence of direct evidence like witness statements. Circumstantial details, including financial records, supported the decision to proceed with indictments.
Background of the Alleged Bribes
In January 2022, Kang allegedly received 100 million won in shopping bags from Kim Kyung at a hotel in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo-gu. Prosecutors claim this money funded the hiring of a Seoul city councilor as an election agent. Kim then secured additional public funds while serving as a resident election agent in Gangseo-gu.
The suspects were first indicted on March 3 and summoned for questioning on March 11. Under legal guidelines, prosecutors must decide on indicted suspects within 20 days.
Detention and Investigation Challenges
A detention request for Kang was rejected, prompting investigators to extend questioning voluntarily. An official involved stated, “While pursuing detention intent, we prioritized thorough voluntary cooperation from the suspects to build a solid case.”
This development highlights ongoing scrutiny of election funding practices in Seoul’s 2022 races, with analysis showing potential irregularities in agent appointments and fund flows.
