Sentenced to 2 years, 6 months in first ruling

Redetained in court over evidence-tampering concerns

Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo. [Herald DB]
Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo. [Herald DB]

Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, sentenced to prison in a first-instance ruling on charges of accepting 100 million won ($74,700) in exchange for a city council nomination, filed an appeal just one day later.

According to legal sources, Kang's legal team submitted the appeal Thursday to Judge Lee Chun-geun of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 1.

On Wednesday, the court sentenced Kang to two years and six months in prison and ordered the forfeiture of 100 million won on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act.

Kim Kyung, a former Seoul city council member accused of handing Kang the 100 million won, was sentenced to one year in prison. A former aide to Kang, identified only by the surname Nam, who allegedly arranged the meeting between the two, received eight months, suspended for two years.

The court found that Kang had received the money in exchange for securing a nomination, citing the consistent and detailed testimony of Kim — who said he handed over the funds — as well as evidence that Kang had actively supported Kim during the nomination screening process. Kang denied accepting the money, but the court rejected that claim.

The court also revoked Kang's bail and ordered her detained in the courtroom.

Kang was indicted on charges of meeting Kim at a hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, ahead of the 2022 local elections and receiving 100 million won through Nam in exchange for a nomination.

If the sentence is upheld on final appeal, Kang will lose her seat in the National Assembly.


moon@heraldcorp.com