An Min-seok: "'Donbongtu' Self-Investigation Team Must Be Composed Entirely of Outsiders"

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was elected as the party leader at the 2021 party convention, where allegations arose that 'money envelopes' were exchanged. Within the Democratic Party, there is an opinion that if an internal investigation is conducted, the entire investigation team should be composed of external personnel.

Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Min-seok wrote on Facebook on the 16th, "Since the Democratic Party has mounted the tiger's back by conducting an internal investigation into the money envelope incident, a thorough investigation must be carried out. If they try to cover it up halfway, they will be pelted with stones by the public." He added, "Above all, to gain trust in this investigation, the investigation team must be composed entirely of outsiders. Otherwise, no one will trust it, and it will result in a worse outcome than doing nothing."

Democratic Party lawmaker An Min-seok is conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) in favor of the "Geomsu Wanbak" (separation of prosecution's investigation and indictment rights) at the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Regarding the allegations, Ahn described them as "a money envelope bomb dropped by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which is facing a crisis due to U.S. wiretapping, as a tactic to change the narrative." He continued, "It is a classic method of covering an issue with another issue," and argued, "Whether the Democratic Party’s decision to form an internal investigation team will be a poison or a medicine remains to be seen."

Furthermore, Ahn stated, "Regardless of the truth of this money envelope incident, it should be used as an opportunity for the Democratic Party’s reform," explaining, "Since Lee Jae-myung became party leader, the party has focused on responding to opposition suppression, neglecting reform."

He emphasized, "Next year’s general election will be a competition of innovation, and the side that takes the lead in innovation will win the election," adding, "If we succeed in reform with the determination to change everything except the party name, the money envelope allegations will become a turning point that sounds an alarm for the Democratic Party of Korea ahead of the general election."