Democratic Party Money Envelope Allegation: Song Young-gil Arrest Warrant... Prosecutors Say "Undermines Foundation of Representative Democracy" (Comprehensive)

The prosecution investigating the money envelope allegations in the Democratic Party of Korea's party convention moved on the 13th to secure the custody of former party leader Song Young-gil (60), who has been identified as the central figure in the allegations.

Former leader of the Democratic Party, Song Young-gil, identified as the ultimate beneficiary of the Democratic Party money envelope scandal, is holding a press conference as he appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 8th for his first summons investigation. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) filed an arrest warrant for Song on charges of violating the Political Parties Act, the Political Funds Act, and bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

The prosecution requested the arrest warrant considering the seriousness of the case involving money politics, concerns over evidence destruction including the disposal of mobile phones, and other factors.

A prosecution official stated, "He used his political position to receive a large amount of illegal political funds and provided them to bribe voters," adding, "This crime, which undermines the foundation of representative democracy, occurred during the process of electing the leader of the ruling party, a public party, and must be evaluated strictly and firmly."

According to the prosecution, Song is suspected of being involved in the distribution of money envelopes totaling 66.5 million won to Democratic Party lawmakers and regional headquarters chiefs in March-April 2021, ahead of the party convention.

Song is also under investigation for colluding with former Korea Water Resources Corporation Standing Auditor Kang Rae-gu, former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun, and former aide Park Yong-su to provide 20 money envelopes (totaling 60 million won) intended for lawmakers to independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok in two instances on April 27-28, 2021.

The prosecution believes that to facilitate this, Song received 50 million won in off-the-books election funds from entrepreneur Kim, identified as a sponsor, at the primary campaign on April 19, 2021.

He is also accused of receiving 10 million won in off-the-books election funds from independent lawmaker Lee Seong-man at the primary campaign on March 30, 2021, and subsequently distributing money envelopes totaling 6.5 million won to regional headquarters chiefs as activity expenses on March 30 and April 11, 2021.

The prosecution applied charges against Song for receiving a total of 763 million won in illegal political funds from seven individuals through an external support organization called the "Peace and Livelihood Issues Research Institute" (Meoksa-yeon) from January 2020 to December 2021.

Among these, the prosecution judged that 40 million won received by Song from former Yeosu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Park Yong-ha in July-August 2021 was a bribe given along with an illicit request to persuade for the expedited processing of permits related to the new and expanded incineration facilities in the Yeosu National Industrial Complex.

The total amount of illegal political funds Song received through Meoksa-yeon donations and off-the-books election funds is approximately 820 million won.

However, the prosecution did not include allegations related to money envelopes distributed to some regional headquarters chiefs and regional situation room chiefs, or suspicions of meal payments, in the arrest warrant, stating that further investigation is needed to determine whether Song ordered or conspired in these acts.