Councilor Kim Kyung Under Police Investigation for Additional Bribery Allegations

Seoul City Councilor Kim Kyung is responding to reporters' questions as he appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit on the 18th to be investigated as a suspect. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Kyung, an independent member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council who is under suspicion for delivering 100 million won in "nomination funds" to Assemblyman Kang Sunwoo, will face a separate investigation over additional allegations of providing money or valuables.

According to the police and other sources on January 21, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency recently received a request from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission to investigate suspicions that Councilor Kim provided money or valuables to another individual, not Assemblyman Kang.

The identity of the recipient has not been disclosed. However, it is known that the individual is not a current or former member of the National Assembly. After reviewing the report, the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission referred the case to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on January 19. The allegation involves a violation of the Political Funds Act.

The incident is believed to have occurred before the by-election for Gangseo District Mayor in Seoul, which took place in October 2023. Councilor Kim's constituency is the 1st electoral district of Gangseo-gu.

Councilor Kim is also under police investigation for allegedly delivering a 100 million won bribe to Assemblyman Kang, who was then a member of the Democratic Party, in June 2022 in connection with his bid for the party’s nomination in the Seoul Metropolitan Council elections.