Independent Lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, Accused of Receiving W 100 Million Nomination Bribe, Released on Bail

Independent Lawmaker Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyung, who were indicted on charges of giving and receiving 100 million won in exchange for a city council nomination, have been released on bail four days before the expiration of their detention periods.

Speaking to reporters as she walked out of the Seoul Detention Center at around 4:15 p.m. today (September 22), Lawmaker Kang stated, "I apologize for causing concern to many people."

She added, "Throughout the trial, alongside objective evidence, I have consistently stated that I never received any money. I will humbly await the court's judgment."

Earlier at around 4 p.m., former Council Member Kim left the detention center without making any specific remarks.

Judge Lee Choon-geun, head of Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Court, approved the bail requests for both Lawmaker Kang and former Council Member Kim earlier that day.

The court explained, "There are valid reasons to grant bail."

However, the court imposed several conditions for their release, including restrictions on residence, a pledge not to leave the country, reporting to a probation office, and the attachment of electronic monitoring devices.

They were also required to obtain prior permission from the court if they leave their designated residences.

Lawmaker Kang and former Council Member Kim had filed for bail with the court in June and July, respectively.

The two were taken into custody side by side on March 3 and were indicted while remaining detained on March 27.

Their detention period was set to expire on September 26.

Under the current Criminal Procedure Act, the maximum detention period for a first-instance trial is six months.

Following the court's decision, the two will stand trial without detention and receive their first-instance ruling scheduled for October 14.

Lawmaker Kang and former Council Member Kim are currently standing trial in the first instance on charges of exchanging a shopping bag containing 100 million won in January 2022 at a hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in exchange for a city council candidate nomination ahead of the local elections.

At the time, Lawmaker Kang was affiliated with the Democratic Party, and former Council Member Kim was subsequently given a single nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for the Seoul Metropolitan Council in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, which is Lawmaker Kang's constituency, and was elected.

During the previous sentencing hearing, prosecutors demanded a four-year prison sentence for Lawmaker Kang and a two-year prison sentence for former Council Member Kim.

The two were additionally indicted on September 14 on charges of splitting approximately 130 million won in political donations under the names of dozens of individuals, and are awaiting their first trial for that case.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.