Seoul: Police have summoned a former ruling Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker to appear for questioning next week over allegations of accepting 100 million won (US$67,900) from a Seoul city councilor ahead of the 2022 local elections, sources said Thursday. The investigation seeks to uncover details surrounding the alleged transaction and its implications in the context of the local election nominations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's public crimes investigation team recently notified Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who recently quit the DP after the bribery allegations surfaced late last month, for her appearance on Tuesday. This development comes as part of an ongoing inquiry into the alleged misconduct involving Kang and the exchange of money.

Kang is accused of accepting the alleged bribe from councilor Kim Kyung via her then aide, which was allegedly given in exchange for Kim's councilorship nomination in the lead up to the 2022 elections. The accusations have raised questions about the integrity of the nomination process and prompted a thorough investigation by authorities.

Police are expected to question Kang about why she accepted the alleged bribe. The inquiry will focus on understanding the circumstances that led to the transaction and evaluating Kang's involvement in the matter. Authorities aim to determine the validity of the allegations and establish accountability for any wrongdoing.

Kang has rejected accusations that she accepted the money, claiming she belatedly learned of her aide's receipt of the cash. Kim, however, has informed investigators that she personally handed over the cash to Kang. These conflicting accounts will be central to the investigation as police work to piece together the facts and ascertain the truth behind the allegations.