Police Conduct Second Search of Kim Kyung Over Additional Money Delivery Allegations (Comprehensive)

Kim Kyung's Residence, Former Seoul City Council Chairperson's Office, and Three Other Locations

The police have launched a search and seizure operation in connection with additional allegations of money delivery involving Kim Kyung, a Seoul city council member who is a key figure in the "nomination bribe" scandal.

The Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on January 24 that, starting at around 8:40 a.m., it had been conducting sequential search and seizure operations at five locations: Kim's residence in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul; the residence of Kim's mother in Bangbae-dong; the home of Yang, a former Seoul City Council chairperson; and the Seoul City Council members' office building.

This action is related to a case referred to the police by the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission. On January 19, the police received a report from the Election Commission regarding Kim and a former city council official, referred to as "A."

Independent lawmaker Kang Seonwoo (formerly of the Democratic Party) is accused of delivering 100 million won in "nomination bribes" to Kim Kyung, a Seoul city council member. Kim Kyung appeared on the 18th at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division for questioning as a suspect. Photo by Yonhap News

The police are reported to have secured an audio recording that appears to capture Kim and "A" discussing to whom they would deliver money ahead of the Gangseo-gu mayoral by-election held in October 2023. Sitting members of the Democratic Party were reportedly mentioned in this process. However, it is understood that no National Assembly members are included as subjects of the investigation.

Previously, on January 11, the police began a compulsory investigation into Kim, conducting search and seizure operations at his residence and other locations. Yang, the former Seoul City Council chairperson included in this search, is known to be one of the political figures who spoke with Kim. There are also claims that Yang is a close associate of "B," a member of the Democratic Party leadership who was involved in the nomination process for the Gangseo-gu mayoral by-election.

Kim's side has denied the allegations, stating, "In connection with the Gangseo-gu mayoral by-election, neither the politicians mentioned in the recording nor anyone else received money from us for any reason." They further claimed, "The content of the report to the Election Commission is a clear case of maliciously edited false information and is an obvious false accusation."

At the time of the Gangseo-gu mayoral by-election, the Democratic Party discouraged incumbent local council members from running. As a result, Kim was unable to run as a candidate for Gangseo-gu mayor.

Kim has previously stated that he decided not to run after consulting with Assemblywoman Kang Seonwoo, as a by-election could have occurred in his own constituency, the 1st electoral district of Gangseo-gu. It is known that Kim has since considered running for Yeongdeungpo-gu mayor in the upcoming local elections in June.

Separately, Kim is under police investigation on suspicion of delivering a 100 million won bribe to then-Democratic Party member Kang Seonwoo in connection with the nomination for Seoul city council member in the June 2022 local elections.

It is also reported that the police summoned Kang's secretary for questioning the previous day regarding suspicions that Kim made "split donations" to Kang. During police questioning on January 20, Kang reportedly stated that Kim tried to deliver shopping bags containing money to her at the end of 2022 and again in October 2023, but she refused to accept them.