Prosecutors additionally indict Kang Sun-woo and Kim Kyung over alleged 130 million won split-donation scheme; closing arguments hearing held today in nomination-bribery case

[Financial News] Prosecutors have additionally indicted independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyung, who are standing trial after being arrested on allegations of giving and receiving 100 million won in nomination bribes, on charges related to so-called split donations.
According to legal sources on the 16th, the Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, headed by Chief Prosecutor Kim Hyung-won, indicted Kang and former council member Kim on charges of violating the Political Funds Act on the 14th.
Kim allegedly borrowed the names of dozens of people and gave Kang a total of more than 130 million won in donations in multiple installments after the 2022 local elections.
Prosecutors believe that Kang returned the 100 million won he allegedly received from Kim in exchange for a local-election nomination, then received the money back through the split-donation scheme.
The additional indictment has been assigned to the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 1, which is hearing the two defendants’ existing nomination-bribery case. The first trial date has not yet been set.
The two were indicted and detained in March on allegations that they exchanged a shopping bag containing 100 million won at a hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in January 2022 in return for Kim’s nomination as a candidate for the Seoul Metropolitan Council.
At the time, Kang belonged to the Democratic Party of Korea. Kim was later nominated without a primary as the party’s candidate for the Seoul Metropolitan Council in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Kang’s constituency, and won the election.
The closing arguments hearing in the existing nomination-bribery case is being held today. The prosecution’s sentencing recommendation and the defendants’ final statements are expected to be presented during the hearing.
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter