Police have decided not to forward the complaint regarding allegations that independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo received political donations from the Ssangbangwool Group.

The Seoul Gangseo Police Station announced today (the 3rd) that it issued a non-forwarding decision due to insufficient evidence on June 18 regarding the complaint accusing Kang of violating the Political Funds Act (concerning donor donation limits and restrictions on donations).

Kang had been suspected of receiving a total of 20 million won in "split donations" from former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Sung-tae, former Vice Chairman Bang Yong-chul, and others over a period of about six months starting in October 2021, while serving as a Democratic Party member of the 21st National Assembly.

Under the Political Funds Act, an individual can donate a maximum of 5 million won per year to a single lawmaker's support association.

However, the police forwarded former Chairman Kim and former Vice Chairman Bang without detention, concluding that the charges against them for making the donations were substantiated.

The police also reached a non-forwarding decision regarding allegations that in December 2021, the Ssangbangwool Group delivered approximately 60 million won worth of donated goods through a welfare foundation in Kang's constituency, which Kang then distributed to voters.

Previously, in April, the Gangseo Police Station also decided not to forward five complaints against Kang concerning allegations of Labor Standards Act violations, perjury before the National Assembly, obstruction of business, abuse of authority, and coercion related to the suspected "abuse of aides by Kang."

It was learned that Kang's former aides did not respond to police requests for statements regarding the alleged damages.

(Photo: Yonhap News)