Mr. A who handed over the money envelope: "It was immediately returned, and it was an official sponsorship"
Jung Woo-taek, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly (Chungbuk Cheongju Sangdang), addressed allegations of accepting money envelopes that surfaced ahead of the People Power Party's 22nd general election nomination interviews, calling them "malicious fabrications" and stating, "The truth will be revealed." The Democratic Party of Korea appears to be making the money envelope allegations against Deputy Speaker Jung a key issue.
On the 15th, after completing the People Power Party's nomination management committee interview, Deputy Speaker Jung met with reporters and expressed this position. He said, "I immediately returned the money envelope and accounted for it as an official donation," adding, "I have filed a complaint against the person who reported this and the so-called informant, and have also completed filing with the Press Arbitration Commission." A five-term lawmaker now seeking a sixth term, Deputy Speaker Jung recently declared his candidacy for the general election and completed his preliminary candidate registration.
The day before the People Power Party's nomination interview (February 14), some media outlets released CCTV footage showing Mr. A, who runs a cafe in Cheongju, Chungbuk, in October 2022, handing an envelope that appeared to contain money to Deputy Speaker Jung Woo-taek.
However, regarding this, Mr. A, the cafe owner who handed over the money envelope, explained in a phone interview with a media outlet, "This is not true." While acknowledging, "It is true that I intended to give an envelope containing money to Deputy Speaker Jung Woo-taek," he added, "Deputy Speaker Jung immediately returned the envelope as he came out the door." He further emphasized, "If they wanted to support, they were told to do so through the official donation account, and it is true that the money was deposited into the support committee," stressing, "The allegations that I handed over several million won to Deputy Speaker Jung's aides multiple times and other claims are all false."
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