'100 Million Won Nomination Bribe' Dispute... Police Resummon Kang Sunwoo's Former Aide After 11 Days

Testimonies Clash as Councilman Kim Kyung Claims He Was Asked for Money... Police to Re-examine Facts
Assemblyman Kang Sunwoo Denies Receiving Money, Summons Scheduled for the 20th

The police, who are investigating the so-called '100 million won nomination bribe' allegation, have summoned Nam, a former aide to independent lawmaker Kang Sunwoo, for questioning again after 11 days.

On the morning of January 17, Nam appeared at the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency as a suspect. He remained silent in response to reporters' questions, such as "Did you move the items under Assemblyman Kang's instructions?" and proceeded directly to the interrogation room.

The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is searching the vehicle of independent lawmaker Kang Sunwoo's office, who is implicated in the 'nomination bribe suspicion.' Photo by Yonhap News

This second summons was prompted by significant discrepancies between the testimonies of Kim Kyung, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member identified as the person who delivered the nomination bribe, and Nam. In a police investigation on January 15, Councilman Kim testified that, ahead of the 2022 local elections, Nam first requested money while discussing Assemblyman Kang's situation as Kim was considering his candidacy. In contrast, Nam previously stated that although he was present at the meeting between Assemblyman Kang and Councilman Kim, the money was exchanged while he was away from the table, and he only moved "items" to the car under Kang's instructions afterward, claiming he did not know those items were money.

The police plan to re-examine, with Nam, whether he demanded money as claimed by Councilman Kim and to clarify the specific circumstances at the time. Notably, both Nam and Councilman Kim have testified that Assemblyman Kang personally received the money at a cafe, while Kang maintains, "I only received a report afterward and never accepted it directly," resulting in a complex web of conflicting claims among the three.

Based on Nam's testimony, the police will review the credibility of Assemblyman Kang's explanation and plan to summon Kang on January 20 to consider a three-way face-to-face investigation.