Prosecutors Track National Assembly Movements of Incumbent Lawmaker Suspected of Accepting Money Envelopes

The prosecution investigating the Democratic Party of Korea's '2021 Party Convention Money Envelope Distribution Allegation' is focusing on identifying the recipients following the arrest of the fund organizers and distributors. It is anticipated that a series of summonses for as many as 20 incumbent lawmakers is imminent.

Prosecution [Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 28th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol) indicted Kang Rae-gu, former Standing Auditor of Korea Water Resources Corporation, on the 26th, concluding that twenty 3 million won money envelopes (totaling 60 million won) were delivered without exception to incumbent lawmakers. The testimonies of Kang and Lee Jung-geun, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, played a decisive role.

The prosecution is reportedly identifying a significant number of incumbent lawmakers suspected of receiving the money envelopes through the investigation of Kang and is verifying their movements. It is reported that the prosecution requested time-specific entry records to the National Assembly Secretariat and related agencies, suspecting that the money envelopes were handed over to incumbent lawmakers in offices within the National Assembly.

In particular, attention is being paid to the fact that former party leader Song Young-gil was the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the time, and the possibility that the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman's office or the committee meeting room within the main building was used is also being considered.

Once the verification of movements is completed, the prosecution is expected to summon the incumbent lawmakers suspected of receiving the money envelopes to question them about the receipt and conspiracy related to the envelopes. Subsequently, former leader Song, who has been identified as the 'ultimate beneficiary' of the money envelope allegations, may also be summoned as a suspect to investigate his involvement or instructions.