Prosecutors have asked a court to sentence independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo to four years in prison and to order the forfeiture of 100 million won (about $72,000), on charges of taking the money in exchange for a party nomination for a city council seat.
The request came at the final hearing of Kang's political funds case, heard by Judge Lee Chun-geun at the Seoul Central District Court. Prosecutors also sought two years in prison for Kim Kyung, a former Seoul city council member who allegedly handed over the money, and one year for a former aide surnamed Nam, who allegedly arranged the meeting between the two.
"This case damaged public trust by turning the nomination of a candidate for public office into the subject of a large cash transaction," prosecutors said. "When money enters party nominations, fairness is undermined, and the harm falls on voters."
Turning to Kang, prosecutors said the lawmaker "claims there was pressure during the investigation and is shifting all responsibility onto the former aide, Nam, and the former council member, Kim," adding that "commensurate and strict accountability is required."
Kang and Kim were indicted and detained in March on charges that they met at a hotel in Yongsan District in January 2022, ahead of local elections, and exchanged a shopping bag containing 100 million won in return for the nomination. Kang, then a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, represents the Gangseo District constituency in Seoul, where Kim received the party's sole nomination and won the seat.
Kim and Nam admitted in court to the charge of providing the money, while Kang has flatly denied the allegations.
Separately, prosecutors filed additional charges on the 14th of this month against Kang and Kim over allegations that they split more than 130 million won in political donations among the names of dozens of people.
