Prosecution Investigates Kim Yoon-sik, Director of Meoksayeon, as a Witness in 'Song Young-gil's External Support Organization' Case

The prosecution investigating former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil's illegal political funding allegations is summoning the chairman of his external support organization, the "Peace and Livelihood Issues Research Institute (Meoksayeon)," for questioning on the 20th.

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) has been questioning Kim Yoon-sik, chairman of Meoksayeon, as a witness since the morning.

Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, who is suspected of money envelope allegations at the 2021 Democratic Party convention, is staging a protest against the prosecution in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of October 11.

Chairman Kim is a figure who was elected as a member of the National Assembly in the 16th general election in 2000 and has served as the chairman of Meoksayeon, the external organization of former leader Song, since 2017.

The prosecution believes that Meoksayeon, a policy research institute established by former leader Song in 2015, functioned as an external support organization. It is suspected that Meoksayeon made payments on behalf of Song's primary election campaign to consulting firm A, covering consulting fees amounting to around 90 million won through false service contracts, and also paid 10 million won for office equipment rental.

The prosecution is also investigating Meoksayeon as a channel for illegal fundraising for Song's primary election campaign. These suspicions emerged during the prosecution's investigation into the "Democratic Party money envelope distribution" allegations.

The prosecution is reportedly questioning Chairman Kim about the inflow and use of funds donated by former Yeosu Chamber of Commerce president Park Yong-ha, businessman Song Mo, and others, under the pretext of sponsorship and meal expenses, into Meoksayeon.

The prosecution suspects that former leader Song received 40 million won in July-August 2021 as a donation to Meoksayeon from former president Park in exchange for a request to resolve permits related to the expansion of the incinerator within the Yeosu National Industrial Complex in Jeollanam-do.

Earlier, on the 12th, the prosecution summoned and questioned Kim Mo, former senior expert on land, infrastructure, and transport at the Democratic Party, who was identified as a person involved in delivering this request to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.