Denied Charges from Start to Finish... Court Says "No Remorse"

[Anchor]

Lawmaker Kang Sunoo, who was sentenced to prison, has consistently denied the allegations from the moment they were first raised, maintaining that she never received a single penny. However, the court rejected her claims, criticizing that "she denies the crime and shows no remorse."

Here is more from reporter Shin Yong-il.
 

[Reporter]

The so-called illegal nomination contribution allegation—claiming that lawmaker Kang Sunoo received 100 million won from former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyeong in exchange for a nomination ahead of the 2022 local elections—first emerged late last year.

At the time of the nomination, a recording was released showing Kang discussing with Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kee on how to handle the money received from the former council member.

[Kim Byung-kee / Democratic Party lawmaker and former secretary of the Seoul City Party Nomination Management Committee (April 21, 2022): Isn't it true that an aide, Nam, was keeping and holding onto that money, that 100 million won?]

[Kang Sunoo / Democratic Party lawmaker and former member of the Seoul City Party Nomination Management Committee (April 21, 2022): Honestly, I just wasn't thinking at all, truly.]

[Kim Byung-kee / Democratic Party lawmaker: How did you end up consulting with me about this issue...]

[Kang Sunoo / Democratic Party lawmaker: Lawmaker, please save me.]

However, when police investigations began, Kang denied the charges from her very first summons. She continued to proclaim her innocence even after circumstances pointing to her receiving the funds grew stronger, such as an SBS exclusive report revealing that she used the 100 million won for key money on a lease.

[Kang Sunoo / Independent lawmaker (Feb. 24): The 100 million won is not worth staking my political life and my entire existence on.]

She did not change her stance even after being detained and indicted last March.

[Kang Sunoo / Independent lawmaker (Sept. 22): I have never received any money whatsoever.]

However, today (the 14th), the court found her guilty, stating, "After receiving the money, she provided significant help so that the former council member could receive a nomination, and she used the received funds for personal purposes."

The court further criticized that despite receiving a massive amount of illegal political funds, Kang "denies the crime and shows no attitude of remorse."

While critics point out that Kang brought this outcome upon herself by consistently maintaining denials while others, including the former council member, confessed to their crimes, a message asserting that the truth will surely come to light was posted on Kang's social media right after the sentencing.

(Camera: Yang Hyun-chul | Video Editing: So Ji-hye | Design: Cho Su-in)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.