Kim Kyung Appears Before Police Over Alleged 100 Million Won Nomination Bribe: "Reports Full of Statements I Never Made and Groundless Speculation"
- Input
- 2026-01-18 10:34:42
- Updated
- 2026-01-18 10:34:42
The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) summoned Kim as a suspect on the morning of the same day and began questioning him. Arriving at police headquarters at around 10:04 a.m., Kim told reporters, "I would like to once again offer my sincere apologies to the people," adding, "I personally find it very regrettable that there seem to be many reports filled with statements I did not make and with mere speculation."
He went on to say, "I am faithfully cooperating with the investigation and am responding with a sense of responsibility," and added, "I ask that you wait for the outcome. Once again, I would like to say that I am sorry."
However, Kim did not answer reporters' questions about what information had been reported incorrectly, whether the former aide had specified the amount of the alleged payment, whether lawmaker Kang was present when the money was delivered, or whether he was willing to participate in a face-to-face cross-examination, and instead proceeded directly to the interrogation room.
Kim is suspected of having delivered 100 million won in what has been described as nomination funds to the side of then–Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Kang ahead of the 2022 local elections.
Meanwhile, the previous morning, police again summoned Mr. Nam, a former aide to Kang, as a reference witness and questioned him for more than 10 hours. Police are said to have reconfirmed with Nam how the alleged nomination funds were delivered and the circumstances at the time. To clarify discrepancies among the statements of the three individuals involved, police plan to summon Kang for questioning on the 20th.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter