Song Young-gil Declares Party Formation from Prison, Tentatively Named "Political Prosecution Abolition Party"

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was arrested and indicted on suspicion of distributing money envelopes during the party convention, has declared the formation of a new party from prison. The tentative name is 'Political Prosecution Dismantling Party.'

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the 22nd, Song's side announced in a press release, "We will hold a founding member meeting of the central party in Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 27th and launch the party preparation committee." They also explained that after holding founding member meetings of city and provincial parties in seven regions, the final central party founding convention is scheduled to be held in Seoul on March 1.

In a post on his social media (SNS) Facebook account the previous day, Song stated, "The Political Prosecution Dismantling Party will fight with the spirit of the second March 1st Movement," adding, "We will act as the right wing of the Democratic Party to provoke and lead the Democratic Party." He further said, "We will be the vanguard to bring down the Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon prosecution crime regime as soon as possible to protect the collapsing democratic republic of Korea."

Song is currently detained at Seoul Detention Center, having been arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Political Parties Act, the Political Funds Act, and bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.