Song Young-gil Repeatedly Appeals for Bail, Asking "At Least Let Me Take a Photo for the General Election Poster"

"Complaining, 'I'm the party leader but writing a statement from prison'"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Sonamu Party, who was arrested and indicted on suspicion of distributing cash envelopes during the Democratic Party leadership election, repeatedly appealed for bail, saying, "Please allow me to take photos for the general election poster."

On the 18th, during a trial at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Heo Kyung-moo) on charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, Song requested, "The Election Commission does not allow the use of old photos," and added, "At least put up posters to give voters a chance to choose." He also expressed his feelings, saying, "My wife recently went to Gwangju Seo-gu Gap and declared my candidacy, and the candidate registration must be completed with the Election Commission by the 21st. I became the party leader in name, but I can't even sleep because I am writing a statement in the detention center."

On the 6th, the 'Sonamudang Party Founding Convention' was held at the Roh Moo-hyun Citizen Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Sonamudang is a political party founded in prison by Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was detained on charges related to the distribution of money envelopes at the party convention. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

During the bail hearing held on the 6th, Song also argued, "Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk was sentenced to prison in the second trial but was not detained in court and is forming a party and active, but I cannot accept that I cannot be active even after forming a party. Please grant me bail so that I can conclude my 25 years in politics and face the judgment of the people."

Song was arrested and indicted on January 4 on charges of involvement in distributing cash envelopes totaling 66.5 million won to Democratic Party lawmakers and regional headquarters chiefs in March-April 2021 during the Democratic Party leadership election to be elected as party leader, as well as receiving illegal political funds totaling over 700 million won.

He has declared his candidacy for the April 10 general election in Gwangju Seo-gap after founding the Sonamu Party while in prison. On the 14th, Song’s wife, Nam Young-shin, held a press conference at the Gwangju City Council, tearfully reading Song’s handwritten candidacy declaration written in the detention center, saying, "Please hold Song Young-gil’s hand, who will stand firm against prosecutorial dictatorship and be with the people." Song will compete in Gwangju Seo-gap against Democratic Party candidate Jo In-cheol, former Deputy Mayor of Culture and Economy of Gwangju City; People Power Party candidate Ha Heon-sik, former head of the Gwangju Seo-gu Eul party committee; and Progressive Party candidate Kang Seung-chul, former secretary-general of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

Meanwhile, on the 11th, the Sonamu Party announced the recruitment of former Democratic Party lawmaker Son Hye-won, lawyer Jeong Cheol-seung, Media Watch representative Byun Hee-jae, former president of the Korean Medical Association Choi Dae-jip, former ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do-hyun, and former Democratic Party standing deputy spokesperson Jeong Da-eun.