‘Uiryeong-gun Council Padding Gift Incident’ Assemblyman Kim Chang-ho Indicted Without Detention

Kim Chang-ho, a member of the Uiryeong County Council in Gyeongnam, who is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act in the so-called 'Gyeongnam Uiryeong County Council Padding Jumper Gift Incident,' has been indicted without detention.

The Masan Branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office in Gyeongnam announced on the 9th that it has sent Kim, his acquaintance Mr. A, and a council staff member Mr. B to trial without detention.

Gyeongnam Changwon District Prosecutors' Office. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

According to the prosecution, in December 2022, Councilor Kim allegedly asked his acquaintance Mr. A to send a total of 25 padding jumpers worth 5 million won to the Uiryeong County Council.

It was revealed that these padding jumpers were distributed among 10 fellow council members and 15 council secretariat staff members through the council's administrative department staff.

The prosecution also indicted Mr. A, who paid for the padding jumpers at Kim's request, and council secretariat staff member Mr. B, who purchased the jumpers after receiving money from Mr. A under Kim's instructions, on charges of bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act, respectively, without detention.

At the time, Councilor Kim explained, "While talking with my longtime acquaintance Mr. A, the need for uniforms for council members and secretariat staff came up, so I delivered the padding jumpers through the administrative department staff. I did not consider the possibility of violating the law. The problem was caused by my own lack of virtue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.