Minju on Song Young-gil's 'Money Envelope Arrest': "Already an Individual Who Has Left the Party"

Former Representative Song Arrested on Charges of Distributing 'Money Envelopes'
Democratic Party: "If Representative Suspicions Are Confirmed, We Will Respond with a Fact-Finding Investigation"

The Democratic Party of Korea distanced itself from former leader Song Young-gil, who was identified as the central figure in the alleged distribution of cash envelopes during the party convention, stating that he is an "individual who has already left the party."

Im Oh-kyung, the party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after the morning floor strategy meeting on the 19th, "There is no official position regarding the arrest of former leader Song Young-gil." When asked if this issue concerns a former leader and is related to the party convention, Im responded, "Since he has been indicted and will proceed to trial, this is a matter that requires further observation, so the Democratic Party has no official stance," adding, "Please consider that he is currently in a state of having left the party."

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was identified as the central figure in the alleged distribution of money envelopes during the Democratic Party's leadership election, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after completing the pre-arrest detention hearing on the 18th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former leader Song Young-gil was arrested on charges of receiving 60 million won in off-the-books election funds while running the Democratic Party leadership race camp in March 2021, and distributing a total of 66.5 million won in cash envelopes to incumbent lawmakers and regional headquarters chiefs. He is also accused of receiving illegal political funds amounting to 763 million won through an external support organization he established between 2020 and 2021 called the "Peace and Livelihood Issues Research Institute (Meoksayeon)."

When asked whether the party plans to conduct an internal investigation into lawmakers suspected of receiving cash envelopes from former leader Song, Floor Spokesperson Im replied, "Only names have been mentioned; there is no confirmed information from investigative agencies," adding, "We cannot take action against individual lawmakers based solely on suspicions." He further stated, "If investigative agencies confirm the facts accurately, the party leadership will devise countermeasures."