[Anchor]
Lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who was sentenced to prison, has consistently denied the allegations from the moment they first emerged, claiming she never received a single won. However, the court rejected her claims, criticizing her for "denying the crime and showing no remorse."
Reporting follows from Shin Yong-il.
[Reporter]
The so-called nomination contribution scandal broke late last year, alleging that lawmaker Kang Sun-woo received 100 million won from former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyeong in return for a nomination ahead of the 2022 local elections.
The controversy surfaced when a recording was made public showing Kang discussing ways to handle the money received from the former council member with Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kee around the time of the nomination.
[Kim Byung-kee / Democratic Party lawmaker, then secretary of the Seoul Metropolitan Party's nomination management committee (April 21, 2022): Isn't it true that aide Nam kept the money that was received?]
[Kang Sun-woo / Democratic Party lawmaker, then member of the Seoul Metropolitan Party's nomination management committee (April 21, 2022): I really had no idea at all.]
[Kim Byung-kee / Democratic Party lawmaker: How did you end up consulting me about this...]
[Kang Sun-woo / Democratic Party lawmaker: Lawmaker, please save me.]
However, once police investigations began, Kang denied the charges from her very first summons. She maintained her innocence even after circumstantial evidence grew stronger, including an SBS exclusive report revealing that Kang had used the 100 million won for key-money for a lease.
[Kang Sun-woo / Independent lawmaker (February 24): The 100 million won is not worth risking my political life or my entire life.]
She did not change her stance even after being indicted and detained last March.
[Kang Sun-woo / Independent lawmaker (September 22): I have never received any money.]
However, the court delivered a guilty verdict today, stating, "After receiving the money, she provided a lot of help so that the former council member could receive the nomination, and she used the received money for personal purposes."
The court also criticized Kang, stating that "even after receiving a large sum of illegal political funds, she denies the crime and shows no attitude of remorse."
While critics point out that Kang brought the outcome upon herself by consistently flat-out denying the charges—even though the former council member and others confessed—a message asserting that the truth will surely be revealed was posted on Kang's social media immediately after the sentencing.
(Video reporting: Yang Hyun-chul, Video editing: So Ji-hye, Design: Cho Su-in)
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