"List of Lawmakers Suspected of 'Money Envelope' Released, Song Young-gil Calls It 'Prosecutors' Public Incitement'"

Song Young-gil "I am not even allowed to defend myself"
Criticizing the prosecution's political intent in CBS radio interview

The prosecution has released a list of Democratic Party lawmakers suspected of having attended at least one suspicious meeting related to the 2021 Democratic Party leadership election cash envelope scandal. Song, the former party leader involved in the case, criticized the move, saying, "The prosecution is publicly inciting and targeting us with coordinates during this sensitive period ahead of the general election."

Earlier, on the 20th, the prosecution publicly disclosed the real names of 21 Democratic Party lawmakers who were suspected of attending a support meeting for former leader Song during the 2021 Democratic Party leadership race in court.

The list released by the prosecution included the names of 21 Democratic Party lawmakers: Kim Nam-guk, Kim Byung-wook, Kim Seung-nam, Kim Seung-won, Kim Young-ho, Kim Hoe-jae, Min Byung-duk, Park Sung-jun, Park Young-soon, Park Jung, Baek Hye-ryun, Ahn Ho-young, Yoon Kwan-seok, Yoon Jae-gap, Lee Sung-man, Lee Yong-bin, Lim Jong-sung, Jeon Yong-gi, Han Jun-ho, Heo Jong-sik, and Hwang Un-ha.

Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, who is suspected of the 2021 Democratic Party convention cash envelope scandal, is responding to a supporter’s question while protesting against the prosecution in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of October 11. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding this, former leader Song, who is the central figure in the cash envelope scandal, raised his voice, saying, "Attending a support meeting and the cash envelope issue are separate matters."

On the 21st, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Song said, "Lawmakers are in a very sensitive period ahead of the election," adding, "In fact, releasing such a list is cowardly. If there was actual evidence, they should have summoned and investigated us. But without any investigation or evidence, they are targeting those who had breakfast meetings and coffee to support me, Song Young-gil. How do you think I feel about that?" expressing regret.

He continued, "There is no need for summons or investigation," and said, "This leadership election case is different from the public election. I want to clarify to the public that public elections maintained by taxpayers and party elections are separate."

He also expressed regret over the prosecution's refusal to convene the Prosecution Investigation Review Committee (PIRC), which he had requested. Song had applied for the PIRC to prevent illegal separate investigations by the prosecution.

Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, who is suspected of the 2021 Democratic Party convention money envelope scandal, is protesting against the prosecution in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of October 11. Photo by Yonhap News

Song said, "It seems that the prosecution's influence is strong, and the gatekeepers appointed by the prosecution blocked this from going to the main trial," lamenting, "Former Minister Han Dong-hoon also used this system, and the main hearing was held where he presented his defense and received the benefit of a recommendation to suspend the investigation and not prosecute. But I am not even allowed that opportunity."

Meanwhile, Democratic Party lawmakers denied any involvement in the cash envelope scandal, calling it a "low-level attempt to impose an illegal frame." On the 20th, lawmaker Han Jun-ho posted on Facebook, "I did not receive any money or valuables during the 2021 leadership election process," and added, "Publicly disclosing unclear facts in court and maliciously reporting them is a clear defamation."

Lawmaker Ahn Ho-young also stated on Facebook that day, "I did not attend the breakfast meeting on April 28, 2021, nor did I receive any money or valuables," and said, "I am outraged by the prosecution's malicious and low-level attempt to impose an illegal frame by publicly disclosing names unrelated to the charges in court as if they received cash envelopes."