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A former member of the Seoul City Council, Kim Kyung, who is charged with providing 100 million South Korean won in campaign funds to Rep. Kang Sun-woo (from Seoul Gangseo-gap) before the 2022 local elections, showed up at the police station on the 29th for his fourth call to appear, after earlier interrogations on the 11th, 15th, and 19th.

The Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Department called Kim in as a suspect for interrogation. Kim arrived at the police station approximately at 9:40 a.m., expressed regret, saying, “I am truly sorry for creating worry among the public,” and further mentioned, “I think the only thing I can do right now is to fully support the investigation.”

At first, Kim was being investigated for allegedly giving 100 million South Korean won to Rep. Kang, who was part of the Democratic Party of Korea’s nomination management committee prior to the 2022 local elections, in return for the party’s nomination. In response, Kim stepped down as a city council member on the 26th, stating, “This was my fault, and I will not make any excuses,” effectively acknowledging the accusations.

Nevertheless, differences persist in the accounts provided by Kim and other relevant individuals concerning the procedure for transferring and retrieving the money. Authorities are anticipated to reassess the circumstances according to Kim’s statements throughout this inquiry.

In the meantime, a computer owned by Kim’s policy advisor, which was voluntarily provided by the Seoul City Council to the police on the 21st, has become a new center of attention in the allegations regarding the nomination fund. The device is said to include approximately 120 audio files of phone conversations where Kim talked about plans to distribute political funds to different Democratic Party members in order to secure the party’s nomination before the October 2023 by-election for the Mayor of Gangseo District in Seoul. Authorities intend to thoroughly question Kim regarding possible bribery involving money and valuable items mentioned in these recordings.

As per the audio recordings collected by the police, Kim is reported to have mentioned to a Democratic Party official during a conversation, “Former Chairman of the Seoul City Council Yang Mo stated, ‘I will ask Rep. A, who is part of the nomination committee. Give him a significant amount of money,’ so I did,” referring to Rep. A, a member of the party’s nomination panel. The tapes are also said to contain talks between Kim and Kim Sung-yeol, a former assistant to Rep. No Woong-rae, regarding the transfer of funds.

Authorities are looking into the situation where, in July 2023, before the deadline for submitting preliminary applications for the Gangseo District Mayor position, Kim talked about a “car-name donation” with an assistant to a high-ranking member of the Democratic Party and transferred 5 million South Korean won into a support account under the name of a close associate the next day. The recordings are said to include evidence of Kim trying to persuade other important figures within the Democratic Party’s leadership for nomination support.

In reply, Kim stated, “There is no truth to the claim that I gave any money or items to any politician referenced in the recordings about the Gangseo District Mayor by-election or to anyone else for any reason.”

Before Kim was re-summoned, police carried out a search and seizure at Kim’s residence in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo District, which is also the home of former Seoul City Council Chairman Yang, as well as the office building for Seoul City Council members, on the 24th. On the 28th, they questioned Kim Sung-yeol. If criminal suspicions involving ruling party politicians are confirmed through audio recordings and testimonies from relevant individuals, the police investigation is anticipated to broaden.