The prosecution investigating the '2021 Party Convention Money Envelope' allegations involving the Democratic Party of Korea is accelerating efforts to identify the incumbent lawmakers who received the money.
According to the legal community on the 7th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol) is cross-verifying the time-based movements of individuals suspected of receiving money envelopes through access records of 29 lawmakers' offices secured during a search of the National Assembly Secretariat on the 5th.
Based on a recorded file from former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun and testimony from Kang Rae-gu, former Standing Auditor of Korea Water Resources Corporation, the prosecution is analyzing seized items by specifying the period and location where the money envelopes were handed over. The prosecution believes that on the 28th and 29th of 2021, just before the party convention, independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok delivered money envelopes containing 3 million won each to about 20 incumbent lawmakers in the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's small conference room in the National Assembly main building and the lawmakers' office building. At that time, former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil was the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the committee's small conference room was reportedly used as the location for handing over the money envelopes.
Although the prosecution seized records from 29 lawmakers' offices, it is believed that only 20 money envelopes were handed over during the incident, so through the verification process, nine lawmakers are expected to be cleared of suspicion. Among the 29 lawmakers' offices are those of former leader Song, lawmaker Yoon, independent lawmaker Lee Seong-man, as well as seven lawmakers from the Seoul metropolitan area, six from Honam, and two from the Chungcheong region. Of these, five to six are said to be so-called pro-Myung (pro-Lee Jae-myung) figures. Once the recipients are confirmed, the prosecution is expected to summon and investigate them one by one.
Meanwhile, former leader Song Young-gil voluntarily appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at 9:30 a.m. that day to attempt a meeting with the prosecution. This is his second time. He also voluntarily appeared on the 2nd of last month and said, "The prosecution is conducting an excessive investigation. I hope they arrest me, Song Young-gil, instead of harassing those around me," but he was not questioned and left. This time, since the appearance was not coordinated in advance, the prosecution is expected to send former leader Song back. A prosecution official said, "There are no plans for an investigation." Song's lawyer, Seon Jong-moon, stated, "If the (meeting) fails, we plan to hold an impromptu press conference and a one-person protest."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
