Kim Gyeong, a Seoul City Councilor, who is suspected of delivering 100 million won in "nomination funds" to Representative Kang Seon-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea during the 2022 local election campaign, arrives at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 11th. [Yonhap News]

Police have launched a forced investigation into independent Representative Kang Seon-woo, Kang's former chief of staff, and Seoul City Councilor Kim Gyeong of the Democratic Party of Korea, who are allegedly involved in a "nomination fund scandal."

This marks the first forced investigation 13 days after the allegations surfaced with the public release of a recorded conversation between Representative Kang and Representative Kim Byung-ki on the 29th of last month.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division announced that starting at 5:30 PM on the 11th, they are conducting searches and seizures at the residences of Representative Kang, former chief of staff Nam, and City Councilor Kim, who are suspected of bribery.

It was also confirmed that Kang's National Assembly office in the National Assembly Members' Office Building and Kim's Seoul City Council office are being searched and seized.

Police plan to secure related materials, including their mobile phones and PCs. In the case of City Councilor Kim, who returned to the country today, the plan is to summon her for questioning after allowing her to observe the search of her residence.

Representative Kang Seon-woo (left) and Seoul City Councilor Kim Gyeong. [Yonhap News/Seoul City Council Provided]

Representative Kang is accused of receiving a 100 million won bribe from City Councilor Kim through former chief of staff Nam before the 2022 local elections, when Kang was a member of the Democratic Party.

Representative Kang, who was a member of the Democratic Party's nomination committee, discussed this with Representative Kim Byung-ki, who was the secretary of the nomination committee, and a recording of their conversation was released amid controversy related to Representative Kim.

Representative Kang stated on social media that while admitting that the former chief of staff received the money, he "repeatedly instructed its return and confirmed its return."

However, it was later revealed that Kim had advocated for City Councilor Kim's nomination at a nomination committee meeting at the time, leading to her expulsion from the Democratic Party. City Councilor Kim actually received a single nomination.

Police, who had been criticized for their "slow pace" regarding City Councilor Kim's sudden overseas trip, which was suspected to be an attempt to evade the investigation, her unexpected visit to 'CES,' and her repeated deletion of Telegram accounts, are expected to speed up the investigation following today's searches and seizures.

Police plan to question City Councilor Kim about whether the money delivered at the time was indeed in exchange for the city council nomination and whether the money was returned afterward.

They also plan to investigate the parts where statements conflict regarding the details of the money transfer with former chief of staff Nam, who has already been summoned for questioning once.

Furthermore, once the analysis of the materials secured through the searches and seizures is completed, Representative Kang is also expected to be summoned as a suspect soon.