Prosecutors: "Song Young-gil Praised After Receiving Report of Bribery"... Remaining Challenges in the Money Envelope Investigation?

Yoon Kwan-seok "Well Communicated to Lawmakers"... Acceleration in Investigation of Lawmakers Receiving Money Envelopes
First Trial Verdict for Yoon and Others Expected on 31st, Pivotal Moment in Money Envelope Investigation

As the prosecution investigating the 2021 Democratic Party of Korea's party convention cash envelope distribution scandal has indicted former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, the indictment includes content stating that independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok met with former leader Song and directly showed him paper envelopes containing cash envelopes, saying he would "properly deliver them to the lawmakers." Currently, the prosecution's investigation into the cash envelope scandal is focusing on the lawmakers who received the envelopes, and the first trial verdict for lawmaker Yoon and others is expected to be a turning point in this investigation.

According to a compilation of Asia Economy's coverage on the 17th, the prosecution stated in former leader Song's indictment that around April 2021, Song's election campaign obtained information that a competing candidate's campaign was providing money and goods to Democratic Party lawmakers to solicit support, and then prepared 'off-the-books election funds' to distribute cash envelopes to the lawmakers.

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is suspected of distributing money envelopes during the party's presidential election, is attending the warrant hearing held on December 18 last year at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

According to the indictment, lawmaker Yoon held a planning meeting at the National Assembly and proposed providing money and goods to Democratic Party lawmakers, saying to the attendees, "Since the competing candidate's campaign is distributing about 3 million won to lawmakers, our campaign also needs to give about that amount to the lawmakers," and after obtaining the attendees' consent, a plan to provide cash was established.

Subsequently, on the morning of April 28, 2021, the first batch of 10 cash envelopes was distributed to lawmakers attending a 'lawmakers' meeting.' However, since some of the lawmakers originally planned to receive the envelopes did not attend, making it impossible to deliver the envelopes, an additional 10 cash envelopes containing 3 million won each were prepared. The prosecution stated in the indictment that before distributing the second batch of cash envelopes, lawmaker Yoon showed them to former leader Song and said he would "properly deliver them to the lawmakers."

The indictment also contains content that former leader Song approved the off-the-books election fund preparation and usage plan at the organizational headquarters level, without restraining or discouraging the secretive fundraising and spending plan, and even asked former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun whether "a lot of money was needed."

Additionally, the prosecution stated in the indictment that former leader Song was aware of the cash envelope distribution, as he received a report from former Korea Water Resources Corporation Standing Auditor Kang Rae-gu that cash envelopes had also been delivered to Democratic Party regional headquarters leaders and praised him by saying "Well done."

The prosecution is accelerating the investigation into the cash envelope scandal. As they indicted former leader Song, they are investigating the final destinations of the 20 cash envelopes mentioned in the indictment. The prosecution has summoned lawmakers Lee Sung-man, Heo Jong-sik, and Lim Jong-sung for questioning in sequence and is coordinating investigation schedules for other lawmakers with confirmed charges. In last year's trial of former lawmaker Yoon, the prosecution publicly disclosed the names of 21 lawmakers suspected of attending meetings where cash envelopes were distributed, 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.'

With former leader Song, the main figure in the cash envelope scandal, being indicted and detained, the investigation is progressing smoothly. The first trial verdict for lawmaker Yoon and former auditor Kang, expected on the 31st of this month, is anticipated to have a significant impact on the cash envelope investigation. As the first court judgment related to the cash envelope scandal, it is expected to serve as a standard for judging the guilt or innocence of former leader Song and the lawmakers involved. The prosecution has requested a five-year prison sentence for lawmaker Yoon and a three-year prison sentence for former auditor Kang.