Court grants bail to Kang Sun-woo and Kim Kyung in 'KRW 100 million nomination bribe' case, citing expiration of detention period

[Financial News] Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyung, who were indicted and detained on charges of giving and receiving KRW 100 million in exchange for a Seoul Metropolitan Council nomination, will be released on bail ahead of the expiration of their detention periods.
Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Chun-geun, granted the separate bail applications filed by Kang and Kim on the 22nd. As a result, both will receive the first-instance verdict scheduled for the 14th of next month while out of custody.
Kang and Kim were indicted and detained on March 27, and their detention periods were set to expire on the 26th. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, detention for a first trial generally lasts two months and may be renewed twice, for a maximum of six months. Kang applied for bail in June, while Kim filed a bail application in July.
The two were indicted on charges of exchanging a shopping bag containing KRW 100 million at a hotel in Yongsan District, Seoul, ahead of the January 2022 local elections in return for a nomination as a Seoul Metropolitan Council candidate.
At the time, Kang's constituency, when she belonged to the Democratic Party of Korea, was Gangseo District, while Kim won the election after receiving the party's uncontested nomination as its Seoul Metropolitan Council candidate in the district.
At the previous closing hearing, prosecutors sought a four-year prison sentence for Kang and a two-year sentence for Kim.
Separately, the two were additionally indicted on the 14th for allegedly receiving approximately KRW 130 million in donations divided among the names of dozens of people. The first hearing in that case is scheduled for next month.
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter