Song Young-gil's Paris Stay Meeting on the 22nd, Turning Point for Early Return

Additional Release of Lee Jeong-geun and Kang Rae-gu Phone Recording
Song Young-gil Holds Press Conference in France Instead of Early Return
"Party Facing Critical Crisis... Must Actively Clarify"

Amid the controversy over the 'money envelope distribution' allegations at the 2021 Democratic Party of Korea convention, attention is focused on Song Young-gil, the former Democratic Party leader who is at the center of the allegations.

Currently, former leader Song is staying in Paris, France. Since December last year, he has been serving as a visiting research professor at the Paris School of Business (ESCP), and his originally scheduled return date was reportedly in July.

However, as Song is considered the key figure in the money envelope distribution allegations, calls for his early return are growing louder. Song has stated that the money envelope distribution was a personal misconduct by former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun and claimed to have little knowledge of the related allegations. But with the recent release of additional recorded files, suspicions are spreading that he may be directly involved.

Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, is watching the exit poll results announcement at the campaign vote-counting situation room set up in Jung-gu, Seoul, on December 15, 2020. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Earlier on the 18th, JTBC released a recorded phone conversation between Kang Rae-gu, chairman of the Korea Audit Association, and former Deputy Secretary-General Lee. In the recording, Kang told Lee on April 10, 2021, ahead of the party convention, "I also mentioned that Seongman hyung connected me a bit, so I distributed it. That's what I told Young-gil hyung."

Kang also said that after reporting that money envelopes delivered by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Seong-man were distributed to the camp's regional headquarters chiefs, he received encouragement from former leader Song. Kang said, "'Seongman hyung prepared it, so I expressed my thanks.' Then (Song) said, 'Oh, well done. Good job.'

The Democratic Party has requested Song's early return. On the 17th, Lee Jae-myung, the current Democratic Party leader, apologized deeply as party leader for causing concern to the public regarding the money envelope distribution allegations and stated, "The party will strive for accurate fact-finding and swift resolution of the situation." He added, "I would also like to say that we have requested the early return of former leader Song Young-gil."

On the 18th, Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, said, "He should promptly return to explain and clarify the matters." Park pointed out, "Whether he knew the facts or not, the situation has become very serious and important, and it concerns matters that happened within his own camp. As a politician, he should naturally take full responsibility."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

However, former leader Song announced that he will hold a press conference in France, where he is staying, on the 22nd. Park Sung-jun, Democratic Party spokesperson, said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that Song's voluntary press conference seems to imply "that early return is not planned."

The Democratic Party once again called for Song's swift return. On the 19th, Song Gap-seok, a senior member of the Democratic Party, said at a party supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly, "Additional reports are emerging suggesting that former leader Song was directly involved in this allegation. Due to what happened during his own party leader election process, the party is facing a critical crisis." He raised his voice, saying, "As a former party leader and senior advisor, the place where Song Young-gil should be is not Paris, France, but in front of the people of the Republic of Korea."

Go Min-jung, another senior member of the Democratic Party, also said, "The recent money envelope incident has rendered all our struggles powerless and even caused us to lose the legitimacy of defending democracy. If he is innocent, there is no reason to avoid or delay. If he has been wrongfully accused, he should actively explain, and if there is even a small fault, he should kneel and apologize before the people."