Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure on Im Jong-seong and Heo Jong-sik over 'Money Envelope Suspicion'... Investigation into Bribed Lawmakers Intensifies (Comprehensive)

The prosecution investigating the 'party convention money envelope scandal' of the Democratic Party intensified its investigation on the 2nd into current lawmakers suspected of receiving the envelopes.

Except for independent lawmaker Lee Seong-man, who was also investigated for involvement in the distribution of funds to campaign staff, this is the first time the prosecution has conducted a forced investigation into lawmakers suspected of receiving money envelopes.

Im Jong-seong, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Photo by Yonhap News

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) conducted a search and seizure of the National Assembly offices and residences of Democratic Party lawmakers Lim Jong-seong and Heo Jong-sik on the morning of the same day on suspicion of violating the Political Parties Act.

The prosecution believes that independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok (indicted in custody) distributed 20 money envelopes containing 3 million won each to Democratic Party lawmakers at the National Assembly Main Building's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee small conference room and the Members' Office Building over two days, April 28-29, 2021, ahead of the party convention, to support former party leader Song Young-gil's election, and that lawmakers Lim and Heo were among those who received the envelopes.

In particular, lawmakers Lim and Heo appear in the key evidence of this case, the 'Lee Jeong-geun recording.' In the recording dated April 28, 2021, lawmaker Yoon tells former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun, "I was going to not give to the two from Incheon and Jong-seong, but they said, 'Brother, give us some too,' so I lost three." Regarding this, Lee testified as a witness at the money envelope scandal trial held on the 23rd of last month, answering "Yes" to the prosecutor's question, "Does 'the two from Incheon' refer to lawmakers Lee Seong-man and Heo Jong-sik, and 'Jong-seong' refer to lawmaker Lim Jong-seong?" He further explained, "Those two (Lee Seong-man and Heo Jong-sik) were the ones from Incheon who attended the meeting as supporters of former leader Song Young-gil, so it must be correct."

Heo Jong-sik, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Asia Economy DB

Lee also testified that at the 'camp planning meeting' held on April 26 of the same year, where the distribution of money envelopes was allegedly planned, the two lawmakers agreed with lawmaker Yoon's opinion on distributing money.

As the prosecution launched a full-scale investigation into the two lawmakers on this day, attention is focused on whether the investigation into other suspected recipients, which had slowed down, will also accelerate. The prosecution has been cross-verifying the evidence obtained and the lawmakers' movements identified through the National Assembly search and seizure to trace the specific money envelope delivery routes and identify the recipients.

During the trial, the real names of several other lawmakers suspected of receiving money envelopes were also mentioned besides lawmakers Lim and Heo. When asked by the prosecutor whether Yoon's statement in the recording implied that it was appropriate to give envelopes to lawmakers Lee Yong-bin, Kim Nam-guk, Yoon Jae-gap, and Kim Seung-nam, who were not present at the first delivery site and thus did not receive the envelopes, Lee answered "Yes." However, Lee testified that he did not know whether the envelopes were actually delivered to them.