“I feel deeply wronged” ... Kang Sun-woo appeals a day after first-trial prison sentence over alleged 100 million won nomination bribe

[Financial News] Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial and taken into custody in court on charges of accepting 100 million won in exchange for a city council nomination, appealed the ruling a day after sentencing, challenging the verdict.
On the 15th, Yonhap News and other outlets reported that Kang’s side had filed a notice of appeal that day with Judge Lee Chun-geun of the Seoul Central District Court, who presided over Criminal Division 1, a single-judge division.
The previous day (the 14th), the court sentenced Kang, who was indicted on charges including violating the Political Funds Act, to two years and six months in prison and ordered Kang to forfeit 100 million won.
Kang was released on bail on the 22nd of last month, shortly before the end of the detention period, but the court again ordered Kang detained in court, citing concerns about the destruction of evidence and the risk of flight.
Kang was indicted while in custody on charges of accepting 100 million won in exchange for a nomination through a former aide surnamed Nam, after meeting Kim Gyeong, a former Seoul city council member, at a hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in January 2022, ahead of the local elections.
At the time, Kang was a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Kim, the former city council member, was the party’s sole nominee for Seoul City Council in Gangseo-gu, Kang’s constituency, and was elected.
Kang argued that Nam had secretly received and spent money from former city council member Kim, and that the two were making false statements in hopes of receiving leniency. The court rejected the argument.
The court found that Kang had provided considerable help after receiving the money, including by expressing active support for former city council member Kim during the nomination screening process.
The court ruled, “Kang not only directly provided considerable help to Kim Gyeong during the nomination screening process, but also expressed active support for Kim among the three candidates during candidate screening,” and “gave various pieces of advice to help Kim successfully complete the interview and secure the nomination, including telling Kim about questions that members of the Candidate Recommendation Management Committee had already asked other candidates.”
The court explained its sentencing decision, saying, “We considered it an aggravating factor that Kang denied the crime and showed no signs of remorse, and that after receiving the money, Kang not only actually helped Kim secure the nomination but also used the money for personal purposes.”
Immediately after the sentencing, Kang posted a message on Facebook indicating an intention to appeal.
Kang claimed, “I feel deeply wronged. I have never received any money,” adding, “Even though I presented clear and objective evidence, my claims were not accepted at all,” and asserting, “The truth will surely come to light.”
The court sentenced former city council member Kim, who was accused of handing Kang 100 million won, to one year in prison, and Nam, Kang’s former aide who arranged the meeting between the two, to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. The fact that both admitted to the crime was considered a mitigating factor at sentencing.
Meanwhile, Kang and former city council member Kim were also indicted in a separate case over alleged so-called “split donations,” involving around 130 million won in contributions made under the names of dozens of people after the 2022 local elections. They are due to face their first trial on the 30th.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter