The first trial for independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung, who were indicted and detained on allegations of exchanging 100 million won ($73,000) in nomination kickbacks, is set to begin later this month.
Presiding Judge Lee Chun-geun of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 1 has scheduled the first hearing for the two defendants on January 29, legal sources said Monday. Both Kang and Kim are expected to appear in court for the formal trial. A former aide to Kang, identified only by the surname Nam, who allegedly arranged the meeting between the two, will also stand trial.
Kang and Kim were indicted on charges of exchanging 100 million won in return for a party nomination at a hotel in Yongsan, Seoul, in January 2022, ahead of the local elections. Kang was a member of the Democratic Party of Korea at the time. Kim subsequently received the party's sole nomination as a Democratic Party candidate for Seoul Metropolitan Council in Kang's constituency of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and won the seat.
Kang's side maintains that the lawmaker did not realize the shopping bag contained money until three months later and returned it immediately upon discovering the cash.