Dec 30, 2025 – A recording from April 2022 captures DP Rep. Kang Sun‑woo and committee secretary Kim Byung‑kee discussing a 100 million‑won payment for a local‑election nomination, prompting the Democratic Party to order an ethics fact‑finding and the People Power Party to file criminal complaints; the scandal forces Kim Byung‑kee to resign his floor‑leadership post. [30]

Dec 31, 2025 – Seoul police open a bribery probe into Rep. Kang Sun‑woo, alleging she receives 100 million won via an aide during the 2022 regional elections; the investigation links the case to Kim Byung‑kee’s earlier misconduct and leads Kang to step down from the party’s floor‑leadership team. [29]

Jan 1, 2026 – Rep. Kang Sun‑woo quits the Democratic Party, citing the burden her alleged 100 million‑won receipt has placed on the party, and pledges full cooperation with investigators despite the audio recording that ties her to Kim Byung‑kee. [27]

Jan 2, 2026 – The Democratic Party expels Kang Sun‑woo hours after her departure, while the opposition PPP demands a special counsel to probe the nomination‑for‑payment scheme and notes Kim Byung‑kee’s resignation as floor leader following the same scandal. [26]

Jan 5, 2026 – Seoul councilor Kim Kyung departs for the United States amid the bribery‑for‑nomination probe, prompting police to request entry‑notification and a travel‑ban; the Democratic Party also expels Kang Sun‑woo and cites the same audio recording of her discussion with Kim Byung‑kee. [24]

Jan 5, 2026 – A civic watchdog files a formal complaint accusing former DP lawmaker Kim Byung‑kee of taking illegal political funds (30 million won) from two Dongjak‑ward councilors in 2020 and of accepting a Korean Air accommodation voucher. [25]

Jan 6, 2026 – Police interrogate former aide Nam as a suspect in the 100 million‑won bribery case, noting his alleged receipt of cash from councilor Kim Kyung for Kang Sun‑woo’s nomination and announcing plans to summon Kang on the following Tuesday. [22]

Jan 8, 2026 – Investigators question a former Dongjak‑ward council member about a claimed 10 million‑won delivery to Kim Byung‑kee during his 2020 parliamentary‑nomination bid, a claim first revealed in a late‑2023 petition. [21]

Jan 9, 2026 – Councilor Kim Kyung admits handing 100 million won to Kang Sun‑woo’s aide to secure her 2022 council‑seat nomination, later retrieving the money, while opposition PPP members prepare a disciplinary motion that could expel her from the Seoul Metropolitan Council. [19]

Jan 11, 2026 – Kim Kyung returns from the United States, faces police raids on her homes and offices, and vows to cooperate with the investigation into the alleged 100 million‑won bribe for a 2022 nomination. [17]

Jan 12, 2026 – Police impose a travel ban on Kang Sun‑woo, councilor Kim Kyung, and aide Nam, citing the 100 million‑won payment tied to a council nomination; raids seize material from their residences and offices, and a leaked recording shows Kang discussing the money with Kim Byung‑kee. [16]

Jan 14, 2026 – Seoul police raid former DP floor‑leader Kim Byung‑kee’s home, office, and related council locations, seizing documents and computer data related to alleged illegal political funds (30 million won), a Korean Air voucher, and other corruption claims; travel bans remain on Kim, his wife, and three council members. [14]

Jan 15, 2026 – Police summon Rep. Kang Sun‑woo for Tuesday questioning on the alleged 100 million‑won bribe delivered through aide Nam, while she maintains she learned of the cash receipt only after the fact and denies personal involvement. [12]

Jan 15, 2026 – Councilor Kim Kyung undergoes a second police interview, reiterating that she personally delivered the 100 million‑won cash to Kang Sun‑woo at a café before the 2022 local elections and hands over her tablet and laptop as evidence. [13]

Jan 17, 2026 – Former aide Nam returns for a second round of questioning, again refusing to comment; police reaffirm their intention to summon Kang Sun‑woo on the upcoming Tuesday to clarify the cash handover. [10]

Jan 18, 2026 – Kim Kyung and aide Nam face a third round of police questioning; Kim claims she gave the cash directly to Kang, while Nam says he moved an “item” into Kang’s car trunk without knowing it contained money. [9]

Jan 20, 2026 – Kang Sun‑woo appears for police questioning as a suspect, declines to answer reporters, and is probed about a leaked recording that links her to a 100 million‑won payment from councilor Kim Kyung routed through aide Nam. [8]

Jan 22, 2026 – Lee, wife of ex‑DP lawmaker Kim Byung‑kee, is questioned as a suspect in a Political Funds Act violation after allegedly receiving 30 million won from two Dongjak‑ward councilors in 2020 and later returning the money; she remains silent on whether her husband knew of the funds. [7]

Jan 26, 2026 – Councilor Kim Kyung resigns ahead of an ethics hearing, admits “heavy responsibility” for breaching ethical duties, and acknowledges the 100 million‑won payment to Kang Sun‑woo; the council’s ethics committee proceeds with its scheduled disciplinary session despite her resignation. [5]

Feb 3, 2026 – Kang Sun‑woo returns for a second police interview, apologizes for causing public concern, and again declines to answer reporters while investigators probe the alleged 100 million‑won receipt from councilor Kim Kyung. [4]

Feb 5, 2026 – Seoul police request arrest warrants for independent lawmaker Kang Sun‑woo and former councilor Kim Kyung, charging them with breach‑of‑trust offenses tied to the 2022 local‑election bribery scheme; Kang’s parliamentary immunity requires a National Assembly vote before any arrest can occur. [2]

Feb 27, 2026 – Former DP lawmaker Kim Byung‑kee appears for a second day of police questioning, faces thirteen allegations—including 30 million won bribes, a Korean Air voucher, and misuse of a council credit card—denies most charges, and pledges sincere cooperation with investigators. [1]