Ruling Party: "Song Young-gil Must Cooperate with Prosecutors" Opposition: "Party-Level Truth Investigation Needed"

The People Power Party claimed that former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil should return to the country as soon as possible and undergo a prosecution investigation regarding allegations that 'money envelopes' were distributed at the 2021 party convention where Song was elected as leader. The Democratic Party stated that they are discussing ways to conduct a 'party-level fact-finding investigation.'

Jang Dong-hyuk, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement on the 16th, "The full story of how former leader Song was able to rise as the 'Money Leader' at the Democratic Party's 'Money Convention' is being revealed," adding, "However, Song himself dismissed it as a 'personal deviation' by former Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun and brushed it off by saying he 'feels moral responsibility but does not know about it.'

Jang continued, "The Democratic Party is belatedly announcing that it will conduct an internal investigation through an 'appropriate organization,' but this ultimately reveals their dark intention to investigate superficially and then quietly cover it up," emphasizing, "It is a 'self-exoneration' with an obvious outcome."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jang stated, "Former leader Song should immediately stop his escape to France and promptly return to cooperate with the prosecution investigation," adding, "The Democratic Party should also abandon its half-hearted internal investigation and ensure that the lawmakers who received the money envelopes cooperate with the investigation."

Senior spokesperson Kang Min-guk also said in a statement that day, "The Democratic Party, which has consistently cried 'opposition oppression' over the prosecution investigation, is now saying it will start an internal investigation, but it is doubtful whether the Democratic Party, caught in the 'double standard' trap, can confess the substantive truth," urging, "The only answer to the corrupt cartel that reeks of rot is a swift prosecution investigation."

The Democratic Party stated that it is reviewing ways to conduct a party-level fact-finding investigation. Kang Sun-woo, the Democratic Party spokesperson, said at a meeting with reporters that day, "We are discussing how to proceed with the fact-finding investigation at the party level," explaining, "There are investigations and methods for fact-finding. We are discussing and reviewing the plans and details."

The prosecution is investigating suspicions that nine people related to Song Young-gil's campaign provided 94 million won in money and goods to lawmakers and others to secure Song's election at the 2021 Democratic Party convention. In connection with this, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of Democratic Party lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Seong-man on the 12th.