Prosecutors Conduct Closed-Door Investigation of One Democratic Party Lawmaker Over 'Money Envelope Bribery'

21 Lawmakers Receiving Money Envelopes Revealed in Trial Documents Scheduled for Mass Summons

The prosecution investigating the 2021 Democratic Party of Korea's party convention money envelope distribution allegations has launched a full-scale investigation into the members of the National Assembly who received the money envelopes.

Prosecutors Conduct Closed-Door Investigation of One Democratic Party Lawmaker Over 'Money Envelope Bribery'

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Recently, the prosecution summoned one incumbent lawmaker identified as a recipient for questioning as a suspect.

A representative from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated on the 28th, "This week, we conducted an attendance investigation for one lawmaker who received the money, and we are coordinating attendance schedules with other lawmakers as well," adding, "As far as we know, no one has refused to appear."

The lawmaker who completed the summons investigation is reported to be one of those who had already been subject to a forced investigation. The lawmakers who were subjected to forced investigations based on specific money envelope receipt allegations include Independent lawmaker Lee Sung-man and Democratic Party lawmakers Lim Jong-sung and Heo Jong-sik.

Earlier, in the trial of lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok, who was prosecuted for the money envelope case, the prosecution publicly disclosed a total of 21 lawmakers who received money envelopes, including 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.

The investigation team plans to proceed with questioning as soon as the schedules with the respective lawmakers are coordinated, so a series of summonses for incumbent lawmakers is expected to continue for the time being.