(LEAD) Seoul city councilor resigns over bribery allegations

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SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) — A Seoul metropolis councilor mentioned Monday she is going to resign over allegations she bribed a lawmaker to win a nomination for her councilorship forward of the 2022 native elections.

Kim Kyung said her intention in a press release launched by her lawyer, saying she submitted her letter of resignation to the chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council earlier within the day.

Kim is underneath police investigation for allegedly giving 100 million gained (US$69,300) to Rep. Kang Solar-woo, who lately left the ruling Democratic Get together (DP) and have become an unbiased, in trade for the get together’s nomination of her for the councilorship.

“Relating to the controversial providing of 100 million gained to Rep. Kang Solar-woo, I really feel heavy accountability for having didn’t uphold the moral duties of a public official,” she mentioned within the assertion. “It was my mistake, and I cannot make any excuses.”

Kim went on to say she is going to proceed to faithfully adjust to all investigations, uncover the reality and obtain the authorized punishment matching her wrongdoing.

The scandal broke on the finish of final month after a recording was disclosed by which Kang may very well be heard discussing the cash with then DP Rep. Kim Byung-kee.

Kim Byung-kee resigned as ground chief the following day to take accountability for that and different allegations of misconduct surrounding him and his household.

Police have additionally launched a separate investigation into allegations town councilor conspired to provide bribes for a nomination for the 2023 by-election for a Seoul district workplace chief.

Kim’s resignation provide got here a day earlier than the Seoul Metropolitan Council was scheduled to open disciplinary proceedings in opposition to her. The assembly of the council’s ethics committee will happen as scheduled at 5 p.m. Tuesday, an official of the committee mentioned.

Kim seemingly would have confronted expulsion, and councilors of the primary opposition Individuals Energy Get together (PPP) accused her of constructing a “cowardly” resolution to resign earlier than she may very well be kicked out of the council.

Not like expulsion, resignation doesn’t go right into a councilor’s disciplinary report.

The PPP councilors insisted Kim should pay the value and demanded an arrest warrant for her, together with an intensive investigation into Kim’s allegations and an apology from the DP for Seoul residents.

hague@yna.co.kr
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