Denying Charges From Start to Finish... Court Says, 'No Remorse'

[Anchor]

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

Here is reporter Shin Yong-il.
 

[Reporter]

The so-called nomination kickback allegations emerged late last year, accusing lawmaker Kang Sunoo of receiving 100 million won from former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kim Kyeong in exchange for a nomination ahead of the 2022 local elections.

A recording was made public showing Kang discussing how to handle the money received from the former council member with Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-ki around the time of the nomination.

[Kim Byung-ki / Democratic Party Lawmaker and Former Secretary of the Seoul City Party Nomination Management Committee (April 21, 2022): Isn't it true that an aide named Nam kept and stored that money, about 100 million won?]

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

[Kim Byung-ki / Democratic Party Lawmaker: How on earth did you end up consulting 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, and maintained her innocence even after circumstantial evidence of the transaction grew stronger—such as an exclusive SBS report revealing that she used the 100 million won for key-money for a lease.

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

She did not change her stance even after being arrested and indicted in March.

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

However, the court delivered a guilty verdict today, stating that "after receiving the money, she provided significant help so that the former council member could receive a nomination, and personally used the money received."

The court further criticized that Kang "received a massive amount of illegal political funds, yet continues to deny the crime and shows no attitude of remorse."

As criticisms mount that Kang brought the outcome upon herself by consistently flatly denying the charges while others, including the former council member, confessed, a message asserting that the truth will surely come to light was posted on Kang's social media accounts immediately after the sentencing.

(Photo: Yang Hyun-chul | Video Editing: So Ji-hye | Design: Cho Su-in)