The investigation into alleged lobbying for Kim Kyung's candidacy for the Gangseo District Mayor position has intensified as police summon former Seoul City Council chairperson Yang and Democratic Party official Choi as suspects. They are being investigated for their involvement in lobbying activities leading up to the 2023 by-election for mayor. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed that they have obtained over 120 recorded conversations from a computer belonging to Kim's policy aide, which reportedly includes discussions about monetary exchanges intended to influence party leadership.

During police questioning, Kim acknowledged giving several million won to Yang but insisted the funds were not intended to influence his candidacy. The Democratic Party official Choi, who was previously implicated in the 1 billion won campaign donation scandal, is noted for discussing lobbying strategies with Kim, showcasing the broader concerns about corruption within the party. Although he was a key operational staffer for the Democratic Party during the 2022 local elections, Choi was not working for the party during the 2023 by-election period.

Rapid developments in this investigation also included questioning of a senior party member's aide, which underscores the police's commitment to addressing potential corruption in the political landscape of Seoul. The inquiry suggests that there may be systemic issues within party politics related to financial contributions and electoral candidacy, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process in South Korea's local governance.