Prosecutors to Summon Song Young-gil on the 8th for 'Democratic Party Money Envelope' Allegations... Song Says, "What Kind of Serious Crime Is This?"

Song Young-gil, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea who stands at the center of the 'cash envelope' allegations, will be summoned to the prosecution for investigation on the 8th.

It has been about eight months since the prosecution launched a forced investigation related to the allegations last April.

On June 7th, Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is under suspicion of money envelope allegations related to the party convention, is making a statement after leaving the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, without being questioned. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

According to the legal community on the 1st, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) will summon former leader Song at 9 a.m. on the 8th as a suspect on charges including violation of the Political Funds Act for questioning.

The prosecution is investigating on the grounds that Song was involved in the distribution of 20 cash envelopes containing 3 million won each to Democratic Party lawmakers at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's small conference room in the National Assembly Main Building and the Members' Office Building over two days, April 28-29, 2021, ahead of the party convention, by Rep. Yoon Kwan-seok (who was indicted and detained after leaving the Democratic Party following the allegations).

They also suspect that Song received about 40 million won in bribes through an external support organization called the 'Peace and Livelihood Issues Research Institute' in exchange for resolving permit issues related to the expansion of a waste incineration plant from Park Yong-ha, the former chairman of the Yeosu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Song, who was staying in Paris, France, returned to Korea on April 24 after the prosecution began investigating the cash envelope allegations. He has denied the charges, claiming he was unaware of the distribution process. He stated that while he would take political responsibility, he is legally innocent.

In particular, at the publication event for 'Song Young-gil's Declaration of War' held at Jogyesa Traditional Culture and Arts Performance Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 9th of last month, he said, "Because of me, more than 100 people have been summoned and investigated by the Special Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. It is truly painful and difficult, and I feel deeply sorry to those people," adding, "What kind of serious crime is this that more than 100 people are being investigated by 14 prosecutors of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, mobilizing section chiefs for six monthsdoing this nonsense, I feel like I'm going crazy. Aren't they bastards?"

At that time, Song also said, "Minister Han Dong-hoon, President Yoon Seok-yeol, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Chief Song Kyung-ho, and Anti-Corruption Division 2 Chief Choi Jae-hoon? I will never forgive you."

The prosecution views the act of distributing money or goods to gain votes in any election, including public office and internal party elections, as a very serious crime and is investigating this case accordingly. On the other hand, former leader Song appears to believe that even if the cash envelope distribution allegations under investigation by the prosecution are true, there is not much legal issue.

During the early stages of the investigation in May and June, Song voluntarily appeared twice at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office without prior consultation with the investigation team, requesting to be investigated first, but no investigation was conducted.

Additionally, Song claimed the prosecution's investigation was illegal and a separate case and applied for the convening of the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee in early last month. However, on the 20th of the same month, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Citizens' Committee held a sub-deliberation committee meeting and dismissed Song's application.