Seoul City Councilor Kim Gyeong returned to Korea on the 11th after leaving the country late last year to visit her child. [Photo=Yonhap News]

Seoul City Councilor Kim Gyeong, who is suspected of illicit monetary transactions involving 100 million won, has been reported to the police.

The civic group, the Committee for the Improvement of the Lives of Ordinary People (CLP, Secretary-General Kim Soon-hwan), filed a complaint with the police on the 11th against Seoul City Councilor Kim Gyeong, accusing her of abuse of power, obstruction of business, and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

This complaint stems from allegations that Councilor Kim gave 100 million won to Councilor Kang Seon-woo, who was a member of the Democratic Party's nomination committee at the time, in exchange for nomination for the 2022 local elections.

The CLP stated, "Councilor Kim has disregarded even the common sense that public officials are servants to the entire nation and are accountable to the people (Article 7 of the Constitution), giving rise to reasonable suspicion that she has pursued private gain out of greed rather than using the taxes paid by approximately 9.3 million Seoul citizens for public purposes." The group added, "She has betrayed the dignity and trust, including the image of the citizens of Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Seoul Metropolitan Council."

The Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crimes Unit, which is handling this case, searched the residences of Councilor Kang Seon-woo and Councilor Kim Gyeong on the afternoon of the 11th and secured related evidence.

Furthermore, an intensive investigation was conducted late into the night of the same day with Councilor Kim, who returned to Korea after staying in the United States.

The core of this case is whether the 100 million won given by Councilor Kim was indeed a quid pro quo bribe to receive a "nomination."

Meanwhile, the police explained the reason for not taking Councilor Kim into custody by stating, "She is cooperating with the investigation, including by advancing her scheduled return date in consultation with the police."

CLP Donation Account: Post Office 010108-01-014472

Account Holder: Committee for the Improvement of the Lives of Ordinary People

Reporter Lim Yo-hee