Police on Thursday filed for an arrest warrant for Rep. Kang Sun-woo, an independent lawmaker formerly of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, in connection with allegations of illicit political funding ahead of the 2022 local elections.
Investigators believe Kang, a party member at the time, received a shopping bag containing more than 100 million won ($68,000) in cash from Kim Kyung, a former city councilor and then local election candidate, at a hotel cafe in Seoul in January 2022.
Police are also seeking an arrest warrant for Kim.
Kang has denied knowingly accepting the money, saying she was unaware the bag contained cash at the time and returned it after later discovering its contents. However, according to reports, Kim told investigators that Kang was aware the bag contained money.
Kang was expelled from the Democratic Party in January following the allegations.
If prosecutors proceed with seeking Kang’s detention, the process could hinge on her parliamentary immunity.
Under South Korean law, a court review of an arrest warrant against a sitting lawmaker can only proceed if the National Assembly passes a motion consenting to the arrest. Sitting lawmakers cannot be arrested or detained during a parliamentary session without such consent.
The motion must be approved at a plenary session with a majority of incumbent lawmakers present and a majority of those present voting in favor.
In the current National Assembly, which began in June 2024, three arrest consent motions have been submitted — two of which were passed.
Kang has not responded to questions about whether she will forfeit immunity.
Two lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party — Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, accused of receiving illegal political funds linked to the Unification Church, and former floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, accused of obstructing a parliamentary vote to lift martial law declared by former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 3, 2024 — were detained after the Assembly approved the motions.
By contrast, the Assembly rejected an arrest consent motion for Democratic Party Rep. Shin Yeong-dae, who faced bribery and public opinion manipulation charges related to the 2024 general election. Nonetheless, Shin later lost his parliamentary seat after a court found him guilty of the same allegations.
Under parliamentary procedure, once the Assembly speaker receives a request for arrest consent from the Justice Ministry, it must be reported at the first plenary session to open thereafter and put to a vote within 24 and 72 hours. If the deadline lapses, the motion is voted on at the next available plenary session.
The Democratic Party holds 162 of the Assembly’s 296 seats.
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