Song Young-gil: "Encouraging Resignation from the Party Is Inevitable to Resolve Hypocrisy... Explain Yourself and Come Back"

Urging the People Power Party to "Undergo a Full Investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 9th regarding the recommendation for 12 party lawmakers suspected of real estate speculation in the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission investigation to leave the party, "This was an inevitable measure to resolve the hypocrisy and distrust regarding real estate issues that the Democratic Party has shown so far."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Leader Song said, "There are many painful matters, but this was a desperate decision for our Democratic Party to change anew."

He added, "We did not decide to discipline the 12 lawmakers on the grounds of guilt. Since the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission does not have investigative or prosecutorial authority, there are limits to clarifying the suspicions, so the case was referred to investigative agencies," and said, "We hope that we ourselves will shed the ruling party's facade, stand on the same footing as the people, submit explanatory materials to the investigative agencies, clarify the suspicions, and return."

Regarding the People Power Party's decision to request a full-scale investigation of its lawmakers' real estate by the Board of Audit and Inspection that day, he urged, "They should undergo a full-scale investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission."

Leader Song criticized, "According to Article 24, Paragraph 3 of the Board of Audit and Inspection Act, public officials of the legislative or judicial branches are not subject to inspection by the Board of Audit and Inspection. Under the principle of separation of powers, it is unconstitutional for the executive branch's Board of Audit and Inspection to inspect the legislative or judicial branches," and said, "The People Power Party must be aware of this fact, so their request for an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection can be suspected as a refusal to conduct a full-scale investigation."

He then added, "The People Power Party's party convention will be held on the 11th. I officially request the five candidates, saying, 'If you become party leader, please clarify your position on whether you will conduct a full-scale investigation into the real estate transaction history of your party lawmakers over the past seven years,' as the representative of the Democratic Party."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.