On a chilly January morning in Seoul, the city’s Metropolitan Police Agency became the center of South Korea’s latest political intrigue. Nam, a former aide to independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, was summoned for questioning over a brewing bribery scandal that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political circles. The investigation, which began to gather steam on January 23, 2026, centers around allegations that Kang received a hefty bribe from Kim Kyung, a current Seoul city councilor, in the run-up to the 2022 local elections—allegedly to secure Kim’s nomination.
This high-profile case, covered by Yonhap and Maeil Kyungjae, has gripped the public with its blend of political drama and the ever-present specter of corruption that seems to haunt South Korean politics. The details are both intricate and, at times, baffling. According to the reports, Nam was called in at 9 a.m. by the public crime investigation team, with police aiming to clarify the tangled web of statements and counter-statements swirling around the alleged 100 million won “nomination donation.”
The story begins in January 2022, when Kang, then a lawmaker with the Democratic Party of Korea but now an independent, met with Kim Kyung at a hotel cafe in Yongsan. Nam, Kang’s aide at the time, was also present—at least for part of the meeting. Here’s where things start to get murky. Nam initially told investigators he had no knowledge of any money changing hands. He claimed to have left the meeting briefly and insisted he was unaware of any financial transaction between Kang and Kim.
However, as the police investigation intensified, Nam’s story shifted. After two days of questioning from January 17 to 18, Nam reportedly reversed his earlier denial, admitting that Kang had used money received from Kim as a charter fund. This about-face added fuel to the already smoldering suspicions, raising questions about who knew what—and when.
Kang himself was not spared from scrutiny. He underwent a grueling 21-hour overnight interrogation, during which he provided his own version of events. According to Maeil Kyungjae, Kang told investigators, “I was handed a shopping bag to Seoul Metropolitan Councilman Kim Kyung at a hotel cafe in Yongsan in January 2022, but did not know it was a bribe.” He maintained that he was unaware of the bag’s contents, even as it sat in his home for three months—a claim that has left many, including the police, scratching their heads.
The police, for their part, are not taking Kang’s explanations at face value. Investigators are focusing on the mysterious shopping bag, which reportedly contained 100 million won (roughly $76,000) and was stored at Kang’s residence for an extended period. The fact that Kang did not immediately question the origin or purpose of such a substantial sum has led authorities to doubt his professed ignorance. As one observer put it, “It is hard to understand that Kang did not know this while keeping a shopping bag with 100 million won worth of money at home for three months.”
To untangle this knot, the police have announced plans to re-interrogate Nam, hoping to clarify the timeline and the precise details of the shopping bag’s journey—from its delivery at the hotel cafe to its eventual return. Investigators are particularly interested in reconciling the inconsistencies between Kang’s and Nam’s statements, as these discrepancies may hold the key to unraveling the true nature of the alleged bribe.
But the plot thickens. The investigation has uncovered additional circumstantial evidence pointing to further financial dealings between Kim and Kang. According to police findings reported by Maeil Kyungjae, Councilor Kim is suspected of having sponsored 82 million won in October 2022 and another 50 million won in December 2023, both times using the names of third parties. These transactions took place after the local elections, raising the possibility that they, too, were linked to solicitation or other forms of political quid pro quo.
Kang, for his part, has told police that he returned the donations upon discovering that the money had been sent on Kim’s recommendation. Yet, the police are not convinced that this explanation fully accounts for the suspicious timing and manner of the transactions. They are now investigating whether these donations were, in fact, payments for political favors—a question that, if answered in the affirmative, could have serious repercussions for all involved.
The case has quickly become a lightning rod for broader debates about transparency and accountability in South Korean politics. For years, the country has struggled with periodic eruptions of corruption scandals, each one fueling public cynicism and calls for reform. The current investigation, with its cast of lawmakers, aides, and councilors, has once again put the spotlight on the need for clearer rules and stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent abuses of power.
As the police continue their probe, the political stakes are rising. Kang, once a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, now finds himself an independent, his reputation hanging in the balance. Kim Kyung, the city councilor at the center of the storm, also faces mounting scrutiny—not only for the alleged bribe but for the subsequent donations that have come to light. And Nam, the former aide whose shifting statements have complicated the investigation, remains a key figure as authorities seek to establish a clear and credible account of what transpired.
Observers note that the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for upcoming elections and the broader political landscape. If the allegations are substantiated, it may prompt renewed efforts to tighten campaign finance laws and increase oversight of political nominations. On the other hand, if the investigation fails to yield conclusive evidence, it could further erode public trust in the justice system and the political process.
For now, all eyes remain on the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency as investigators sift through statements, bank records, and shopping bag receipts, hoping to piece together the puzzle. The coming weeks are likely to bring new revelations—and perhaps, some long-awaited answers. Until then, the case of Kang Sun-woo, Kim Kyung, and the mysterious 100 million won continues to captivate a nation all too familiar with the perils of political ambition and the temptations of power.