▲ Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung bows as she arrives at an office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police in the capital in this file photo taken Jan. 18, 2026, to be questioned about her alleged bribery of Rep. Kang Sun-woo ahead of the 2022 local elections. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Seoul city councilor-resignation

(LEAD) Seoul city councilor resigns over bribery allegations

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SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul city councilor said Monday she will resign over allegations she bribed a lawmaker to win a nomination for her councilorship ahead of the 2022 local elections.

Kim Kyung stated her intention in a statement released by her lawyer, saying she submitted her letter of resignation to the chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council earlier in the day.

Kim is under police investigation for allegedly giving 100 million won (US$69,300) to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who recently left the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and became an independent, in exchange for the party's nomination of her for the councilorship.

"Regarding the controversial offering of 100 million won to Rep. Kang Sun-woo, I feel heavy responsibility for having failed to uphold the ethical duties of a public official," she said in the statement. "It was my mistake, and I will not make any excuses."

Kim went on to say she will continue to faithfully comply with all investigations, uncover the truth and receive the legal punishment matching her wrongdoing.

The scandal broke at the end of last month after a recording was disclosed in which Kang could be heard discussing the money with then DP Rep. Kim Byung-kee.

Kim Byung-kee resigned as floor leader the next day to take responsibility for that and other allegations of misconduct surrounding him and his family.

Police have also launched a separate investigation into allegations the city councilor conspired to give bribes for a nomination for the 2023 by-election for a Seoul district office chief.

Kim's resignation offer came a day before the Seoul Metropolitan Council was scheduled to open disciplinary proceedings against her. The meeting of the council's ethics committee will take place as scheduled at 5 p.m. Tuesday, an official of the committee said.

Kim likely would have faced expulsion, and councilors of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) accused her of making a "cowardly" decision to resign before she could be kicked out of the council.

Unlike expulsion, resignation does not go into a councilor's disciplinary record.

The PPP councilors insisted Kim must pay the price and demanded an arrest warrant for her, along with a thorough investigation into Kim's allegations and an apology from the DP for Seoul residents.

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