What sentences did Kang Sun-woo and Kim Kyung receive in the cash-for-nomination case?

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kang Sun-woo to 2 1/2 years in prison and ordered her to forfeit 100 million won. Former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung received a one-year prison sentence, while Kang’s former aide received an eight-month suspended sentence.

When and why did Kang Sun-woo allegedly receive money from Kim Kyung?

Prosecutors said Kim Kyung gave Kang Sun-woo 100 million won in January 2022 in exchange for a Democratic Party of Korea nomination ahead of that year’s local elections. Kang was serving on the party committee responsible for selecting Seoul city council candidates.

What additional charges does Kang Sun-woo face beyond the nomination bribery case?

Kang has also been indicted on allegations of receiving 130 million won in illegal donations from Kim Kyung through multiple borrowed names after the 2022 local elections. The court separately cited concerns about flight and possible destruction of evidence when ordering Kang and Kim into custody.

Lawmaker sentenced to 2 1/2 yrs in prison over cash-for-nomination scandal

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Summary

Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison at the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday for receiving 100 million won in exchange for an election nomination. The court also ordered her to forfeit the money and sentenced former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung to one year in prison. A former aide to Kang received an eight-month suspended sentence for arranging their meeting.

Key Facts

Prosecutors had sought a four-year prison term for Kang, who served on the Democratic Party of Korea nomination committee for Seoul city councilors in 2022.
Kim Kyung was selected as a Democratic Party of Korea nominee and won a seat in the 2022 local elections after the alleged payment.
The court ordered Kang and Kim to be immediately placed under custody, citing concerns about flight and possible destruction of evidence.
Prosecutors have separately indicted Kang over allegations that she received 130 million won in illegal donations from Kim through borrowed names after the 2022 local elections.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 14, 2026 3:24 pm KST
Updated Oct 14, 2026 3:50 pm KST

Rep. Kang Sun-woo answers reporters' questions as she appears for her trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

A Seoul district court on Wednesday sentenced independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo to 2 1/2 years in prison on charges of receiving money in exchange for an election nomination.

The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence for Kang, formerly a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), also ordering her to forfeit 100 million won ($75,000).

Prosecutors had sought a four-year prison term for Kang, accusing her of accepting 100 million won from former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung in January 2022 in exchange for a DPK nomination ahead of the local elections that year.

Kang served as a member of the DPK's nomination committee for Seoul city councilors at the time. Kim was selected as a DPK nominee and was elected in the 2022 local elections.

The court sentenced Kim to one year in prison and a former aide to Rep. Kang to an eight-month prison term, suspended for two years, for arranging the meeting between Kang and Kim.

The court ordered for Kang and Kim to be immediately placed under custody, citing concerns of flight and possible destruction of evidence. The two were both released on bail last month after being indicted under physical detention.

The court ruled the defendants exchanged illegal political funds, adding their actions undermined election fairness and "severely" damaged the public's trust.

Kang left the DPK at the start of this year, shortly after the scandal surfaced following the disclosure of a recording in which Kang can be heard discussing the money with former DPK floor leader Kim Byung-kee.

Prosecutors have also indicted Kang on additional charges of receiving illegal donations worth 130 million won from Kim through a number of borrowed names after the 2022 local elections.

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