Jeong Seong-ho "Money envelopes at the level of gas and meal expenses... Song Young-gil probably didn't know"

Assemblyman Jeong Seong-ho, CBS Radio Interview
"Was the transcript leaked by the prosecution?"

Jeong Seong-ho, a four-term senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 18th regarding the money envelope allegations at the Democratic Party convention, "In my experience, when holding a party convention, the party leader rarely has time to be involved or receive reports," and emphasized, "Although the public generally thinks the amount is large, the money is usually just for the staff's transportation, fuel, and meal expenses. If former leader Song Young-gil had known that such specific amounts were exchanged, he would not have tolerated it."

Jeong appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day and said, "Hearing the vivid voices of Democratic Party officials, regional committee heads, and deputy secretaries-general in the (former Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun's) recordings was very embarrassing and distressing."

Jeong continued, "After Park Hee-tae, the leader of the Grand National Party, was severely punished for distributing money envelopes at the 2008 party convention, I thought such practices had ended, but hearing such news now is very shameful and I apologize to the public," bowing his head.

However, regarding the recently released recordings through the media, he expressed suspicion, saying, "The disclosure of the accused facts is being done openly. I wonder if the prosecution has political intentions." Jeong said, "The prosecution seized the former Deputy Secretary-General's cellphone, so it is questionable how the recorded files stored there could have been leaked externally," adding, "This is a very abnormal situation."

Jeong Seong-ho, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeong raised his voice, saying, "Some media claim to have obtained the files independently, but it is puzzling how the recorded files on the seized cellphone could have been leaked," and "I cannot help but suspect that the prosecution has political motives."

He further criticized, "It would be better for the prosecution to make an official announcement rather than leaking information to the media. Leaking details that only the investigating prosecutors would know to the media to put the opposition party leader in a difficult position is undesirable," he said.

Regarding internal party measures, Jeong said, "Once the investigation progresses and becomes more concrete, the party should take measures that the public can accept." He emphasized, "Depending on the investigation's progress and revealed facts, the level of action will vary, but this should be an opportunity for the Democratic Party to show the public that it has truly changed with innovative measures."

About the 30-minute phone call between former leader Song and current leader Lee Jae-myung the previous day, he said, "No one except the two of them knows the content of the call," but added, "Since former leader Song was the party leader, I believe he will come forward and take responsibility after returning to the country."