Testimony has emerged in the trial over independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo's alleged "100 million won nomination bribery" case, suggesting that former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyung also delivered a shopping bag believed to contain money to independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee.
In a continued hearing on the charges of violating the Political Funds Act against Rep. Kang and former council member Kim, held Wednesday before Judge Lee Chun-keun of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Single-Judge Division 1, a former staffer at Rep. Kim's office, identified as A, appeared as a witness and described the situation at the time. A said three people, including Rep. Kim and former council member Kim, met at a location presumed to be a Chinese restaurant, and that he had heard from an aide that Rep. Kim was holding a shopping bag close to him at the time.
"After the three people met and Rep. Kim got into the car, he was said to be holding something like a shopping bag," A testified. He continued, "This is not my own judgment, but according to the aide, Rep. Kim tends to throw inferior items into the back seat, but when he receives something like money, he does not let it leave his arms." A added, "(Seeing Rep. Kim in such a state, the aide) said, 'Somehow it seems he received money,' and that stayed in my memory."
When the prosecution asked, "Are you saying Rep. Kim was holding the shopping bag close to him in the car?" A answered, "Yes. He was not letting go of it." He added, "Holding it close is a figurative expression, meaning he did not let it leave his body."
When the prosecution asked, "Are you saying he likely received it from former council member Kim or one of those present?" A said, "That is not an area I can judge." A also said Rep. Kim told him that he had rejected former council member Kim's request for a nomination.
"Former council member Kim has an excellent background, so I wondered why he refused, and that conversation stays in my memory," A said. He added, "Rep. Kim said, 'Kim Kyung asked me for a nomination as council member or district mayor, and I tried to grant it, but could not because of my spouse's opposition.'"
After completing the witness examination of A that day, the court decided to continue the trial on the 15th of next month. Rep. Kang and former council member Kim were indicted under arrest last month on charges of meeting at a hotel in Yongsan-gu in January 2022, ahead of the local elections, and exchanging a shopping bag containing 100 million won in return for a nomination. At the time, Rep. Kang was a member of the Democratic Party, and former council member Kim was given a single nomination as the Democratic Party's Seoul council candidate in Gangseo-gu, Rep. Kang's electoral district, and was elected.
Prosecutors also referred to trial Nam, a former aide to Rep. Kang who arranged the meeting between the two, and former council member Kim. While former lawmaker Kim and Nam acknowledged the bribery charges in court, Rep. Kang has flatly denied the charges.
