Song Young-gil: "Waiving Immunity Means Giving Up Being the Opposition Party"

Declaration of Lee Jae-myung's Waiver of Immunity
"A Surrender Document Abandoning the Legislative Branch's Role of Checks and Balances"

Former leader Song Young-gil, who left the Democratic Party of Korea amid allegations of money envelopes at the party convention, described Lee Jae-myung's announcement to relinquish parliamentary immunity as "a surrender document that abandons the legislative branch's role of checks and balances."

On the 21st, Song appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "Without parliamentary immunity, how can the legislative branch fight against this prosecutorial dictatorship regime?" He added, "Giving up parliamentary immunity to confront prosecutors is a surrenderist approach."

Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Song Young-gil, is holding a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu on the morning of the 2nd. Despite the prosecution's stance that investigation is still difficult regarding the '2021 party convention money envelope suspicion,' former leader Song voluntarily appeared on this day but left after being denied entry. 2023.5.2 [Image source=Yonhap News]

Referring to the rejection of Lee's arrest consent motion once, Song said, "(Lee's relinquishment of parliamentary immunity) is a more proactive intention to fight, to combat the framing," and claimed, "Under Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and this dictatorship regime, giving up is tantamount to giving up being the opposition party."

Regarding the money envelope allegations, Song stated, "Since this issue arose because of me, I said I would take political responsibility and resolve this situation, and personally and legally, I said I was unaware of the matter," adding, "If they try to trap me in court, I will fight thoroughly."

He continued, "It is not easy for one who has been party leader to leave the party. It brings tears, but I came out because I should not burden the party," and claimed, "Isn't the prosecution conducting a planned investigation to catch me until the end?"

He then urged the Democratic Party, "I hope you fight properly," and said, "Right now, all democracy is groaning under the complete prosecutorial dictatorship regime."