Seoul: A Seoul city councilor embroiled in a bribery scandal involving the ruling Democratic Party (DP) has admitted to giving money to a lawmaker in the lead-up to the 2022 local elections, sources said Friday. Kim Kyung, the councilor in question, has been under investigation over allegations that she gave 100 million won (US$68,600) to an aide of Rep. Kang Sun-woo, formerly of the DP, allegedly in exchange for her constituency nomination ahead of the 2022 elections.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim admitted in a recently submitted statement to police that she handed over the 100 million won and subsequently got it back. Presently, Kim is in the United States, having left the country on December 31, shortly after a complaint was filed against her regarding the bribery allegations.

Amid suspicions surrounding her departure as an attempt to evade investigation, Kim indicated her plans to return home on Monday morning. Police have placed her on an entry notification list and plan to impose a travel ban with intentions to begin questioning her upon arrival, though the schedule for the probe remains unset, officials stated.

Kim was observed attending CES 2026 in Las Vegas earlier this week, which has added fuel to the ongoing controversy. Meanwhile, Seoul city councilors from the main opposition People Power Party are preparing a motion to take disciplinary action against Kim, which could include possible expulsion from the Seoul Metropolitan Council. A decision on the disciplinary action is anticipated as early as next month.

Kim, who was elected into office as a DP candidate in the 2022 elections, parted ways with the party in September over separate allegations that she tried to mass recruit followers of a religious group into the DP to support a certain candidate in this year's local elections.