Yoon Gwan-seok Trial to Conclude on the 18th... First Verdict on 'Democratic Party Money Envelope' Expected Early Next Year

The trial of independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok, who was arrested and indicted over the Democratic Party of Korea's 'party convention money envelope scandal,' is set to conclude next week. Accordingly, the court's first ruling on the money envelope scandal case is expected to be issued early next year.

Independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-2 (Presiding Judges Kim Jeong-gon, Kim Mi-kyung, Heo Kyung-moo) announced on the 11th that it plans to hold the final arguments for Yoon, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Political Parties Act, and Kang Rae-gu, former standing auditor of the Korea Water Resources Corporation, on the 18th and then conclude the trial proceedings.

Regarding the allegation that Yoon instructed, encouraged, or demanded the preparation of money envelopes to be distributed to lawmakers, as stated in the indictment, the court requested, "Please clarify the prosecution's position on whether it corresponds to instruction, encouragement, or demand."

In response, the prosecution said, "It pertains to one of these, but we will consider specifying it as 'encouragement' and amend the indictment accordingly, and will state our position at the sentencing hearing."

Yoon's side maintained their previous claim that each envelope contained 1 million won, not 3 million won. They also expressed their opinion on the provision of money, reiterating that they only 'consulted' and never instructed, encouraged, or demanded, emphasizing that they were merely a simple messenger.

The defense attorney added, "Yoon was not in a position to oversee the Song Young-gil campaign," and "He was involved because he tried to assist former leader Song, not for his own political purposes or benefits."

During the prosecution's documentary evidence investigation that day, circumstances were presented showing contact between former leader Song Young-gil and Yoon on the day the money envelopes were delivered. "According to the recorded phone conversation on April 28, 2021, between former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun and Mr. Kang, it can be confirmed that Yoon had a 30-minute meeting with former leader Song," the prosecution emphasized.

They also confirmed that Lee sent a KakaoTalk message to Kang in March 2021 regarding the primary campaign operating expenses, which included the phrase 'Kang Rae-gu, good job,' and that the final recipient of this message was former leader Song.