Global Economic Times

Prosecutors Seek Arrest Warrants for Rep. Kang Sun-woo and Former Councilor Kim Kyung Over ‘Nomination Bribery’ Scandal: KO YONG-CHUL Reporter / Updated : 2026-02-09 18:20:57

SEOUL – The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has formally requested arrest warrants for independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo and former Seoul Metropolitan Councilor Kim Kyung. The move, announced on Monday, follows allegations that a "nomination bribe" totaling 100 million KRW (approx. $75,000 USD) was exchanged ahead of the 2022 local elections.

The Core Allegations
According to the Public Investigation Division 2, led by Chief Prosecutor Kim Hyung-won, both individuals face multiple charges, including:

- Violations of the Political Funds Act
- Breach of Trust (Receiving/Giving bribes)
- Violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (Kim Young-ran Act)

The prosecution alleges that in January 2022, during the lead-up to the 8th Nationwide Local Elections, then-Councilor Kim Kyung handed over 100 million KRW to Rep. Kang in exchange for a favorable party nomination for a seat on the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

Conflicting Defenses
While investigators state that Kim Kyung has admitted to the charges during police questioning, Rep. Kang—who was recently expelled from the Democratic Party of Korea due to the controversy—maintains her innocence. Kang reportedly told investigators that while she did receive a shopping bag from Kim, she was "unaware that it contained cash."

Prosecutors justified the warrant request by citing the "gravity of the crimes" and the potential "risk of evidence destruction."

The Barrier of Parliamentary Immunity
As a sitting member of the National Assembly, Rep. Kang holds parliamentary immunity (privilege against arrest). This means she cannot be detained or undergo a substantive warrant review by a judge without the consent of the legislature.

The legal process will now follow a strict constitutional timeline:

Request Submission: The court submits a request for a "Motion for Consent to Arrest" to the government, which is then sent to the National Assembly.
Plenary Reporting: The Speaker must report the motion at the first plenary session.
The Vote: A secret ballot must be held between 24 and 72 hours after the report.
If the motion passes, a warrant hearing will proceed; if it is voted down, the warrant is automatically dismissed. The political sphere is now watching closely to see if Rep. Kang will voluntarily waive her immunity to face the court—a move used by some politicians to minimize public backlash—or if she will rely on the legislative vote to block her arrest.