[Anchor]
Lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who was sentenced to two years and six months in prison and taken into custody yesterday (October 14), has consistently denied the allegations even as evidence pointing to her receiving money became increasingly clear. The court criticized her for showing no remorse, but immediately after the sentencing, Kang posted a statement maintaining that she is innocent.
Reporter Shin Yong-il has the details.
[Reporter]
Suspicions regarding nomination-related funds first emerged late last year, involving allegations that Lawmaker Kang Sun-woo received 100 million won from former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyung in return for a nomination ahead of the 2022 local elections.
The controversy surfaced when a recording was made public in which Kang discussed with then-Democratic Party Lawmaker Kim Byung-ki how to handle the money she received from the former council member.
[Kim Byung-ki / Then-Democratic Party Lawmaker and Secretary of the Seoul City Party Nomination Management Committee (April 21, 2022): "Isn't it true that an aide named Nam was keeping that money, the 100 million won or whatever it was?"]
[Kang Sun-woo / Then-Democratic Party Lawmaker and Member of the Seoul City Party Nomination Management Committee (April 21, 2022): "I really didn't have any thoughts at all, truly."]
[Kim Byung-ki / 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 starting from her first summons. She continued to assert 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 on a lease.
[Kang Sun-woo / Independent Lawmaker (February 24): "100 million won is not worth risking my political career or my life for."]
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."]
The court, however, found her guilty, stating, "After receiving the money, she provided substantial help so that the former council member could secure the nomination, and she used the received funds for personal purposes."
The court also criticized Kang, noting that "despite receiving a large sum of illegal political funds, she has denied the crime and shown no attitude of remorse."
While critics point out that Kang brought the outcome upon herself by consistently denying the charges even though the former council member and others confessed, a message claiming that the truth will ultimately be revealed was posted on Kang's social media immediately after the sentencing.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Video by Yang Hyun-chul, Video Editing by So Ji-hye, Design by Cho Soo-in)
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