Song Young-gil Defends Lee Jae-myung's Drunk Driving: "It Happened While Rushing to Hear an Urgent Tip"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that the drunk driving record of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung was "all related to activities for the public good."

On the 23rd, during a congratulatory speech at the launch ceremony of the Professional Headquarters of the Great Transition Election Committee held at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, Song mentioned the background of Lee's political entry and made this statement.

He said, "The reason for entering politics is touching. It was not for personal advancement but to build Seongnam Medical Center together with the citizens. They collected 200,000 signatures from citizens and requested the Seongnam City Council to enact an ordinance to build the medical center, but the Seongnam City Council, led by members of the Grand National Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, dismissed the ordinance request in just 47 seconds."

He added, "One of the four criminal records criticized by the People Power Party is the one where he was convicted of obstruction of official duties for causing a disturbance together with crying citizens."

Regarding Lee's record of 'impersonating a public official,' Song explained, "While investigating the Bundang Parkview incident, he was discussing with a broadcast PD, and the PD impersonated a prosecutor. Lee was nearby and was accused as an accomplice, which is the second criminal record." He added, "I also have the same accomplice record. I was charged with violating election law for handing out business cards at a subway station. I was so upset that I became a member of the National Assembly and changed the law."

Regarding Lee's 'violation of the Public Official Election Act,' Song said, "A subway station is defined as the place where tickets are checked at the turnstile, so handing out business cards in the shared underground passage cannot be considered a crime. Therefore, it is no longer a crime now, but that was the third criminal record."

Song defended Lee, saying, "Although drinking was wrong, he said he did it in a hurry while rushing to hear a whistleblower's story. Even looking at the criminal records, they were related to activities for the public good. When you love, you come to know, and when you come to know, you see. What you see then will be different from before."

Meanwhile, Lee has criminal records for △ impersonating a public official (2003, fine of 1.5 million KRW) △ violation of the Road Traffic Act (2004, fine of 1.5 million KRW) △ obstruction of official duties (2004, fine of 5 million KRW) △ violation of the Public Official Election Act (2010, fine of 500,000 KRW).

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