Former Lawmaker Lee Sungman Acquitted in Second Trial Over "Money Envelope" Case... "Lee Jungkeun's Recording Illegally Obtained Evidence"

Money Envelope Scandal at Party Convention
"Unlawful Seizure of Electronic Information Unrelated to Bribery Case"

Former lawmaker Lee Sungman, who was implicated in the "Money Envelope Incident" at the Democratic Party of Korea's party convention in 2021 and received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial, was acquitted in the second trial.

Former lawmaker Lee Sungman, who was sentenced to 9 months in prison with a 2-year probation at the sentencing trial for the "Money Envelope Incident" held at the Democratic Party of Korea's party convention on the 30th, is leaving the courtroom. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

On September 19, the 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jaegwon) overturned the original verdict that sentenced Lee to 9 months in prison with 2 years of probation for violating the Political Funds Act and the Political Parties Act, and found him not guilty.

The court determined that the mobile phone recording of Lee Jungkeun, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, which served as the key evidence for conviction in the first trial, was "illegally obtained evidence." The court stated, "It is difficult to conclude that Lee Jungkeun submitted electronic information unrelated to the bribery charges when handing over her mobile phone," and added, "The prosecutor's actions, which went beyond the bribery case involving Lee Jungkeun, were unlawful."

The court further explained, "For separate criminal charges unrelated to the bribery case, the prosecutor should have obtained a new search and seizure warrant, but instead kept Lee Jungkeun's mobile phone and submitted it as evidence in both the case involving former party leader Song Younggil and this case." The court concluded, "It is appropriate to exclude electronic information from Lee Jungkeun's phone that is unrelated to the bribery charges."

Lee was accused of receiving an envelope containing 3 million won from former lawmaker Yoon Kwansuk on April 28, 2021, while attending a meeting of National Assembly members supporting Song Younggil, then the leader of the Sonamoo Party (former Democratic Party leader), ahead of the Democratic Party convention. He was also accused of providing a total of 11 million won in off-the-books campaign funds, considered "slush funds," to Song and others in March of the same year.

In August last year, the first trial found Lee guilty of all charges, sentencing him to 6 months in prison with 2 years of probation for violating the Political Parties Act and the Political Funds Act, and an additional 3 months in prison with 2 years of probation for violating the Political Parties Act, totaling 9 months in prison with 2 years of probation and a forfeiture of 3 million won.