'Lee Jung-geun Gate' Spreads Widely... Ruling Party Targets Song Young-gil

Taeyoungho "Democratic Party's Old Habits of Buying Power with Money"
Kim Byungmin "Democratic Party Entrusting Fish to Cats"

The Democratic Party of Korea is in turmoil as lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Sung-man were subjected to a search and seizure in connection with allegations of illegal political funds exchanged during the 2021 Democratic Party convention.

Given that the volume of recordings from former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun, which became the key to the investigation, is reportedly extensive, there is a possibility that judicial risks could spread throughout the entire Democratic Party. The ruling party leadership collectively directed sharp criticism at former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, who is currently staying in Paris, France.

On the 13th, Supreme Council member Tae Young-ho posted on his social media, "The old-fashioned political behavior of the Democratic Party, buying votes with money and buying power with money, is being revealed," and questioned, "Did Song Young-gil (former leader) buy his leadership position with money, and did Lee Jae-myung (current leader) rise to the presidential candidate position with money?"

Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, is leaving the campaign office in Jung-gu, Seoul, after holding a press conference acknowledging his defeat on the 1st. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Supreme Council member Kim Byung-min also raised his voice on social media the previous day, saying, "An official who was placed in the key position of ruling party Deputy Secretary-General committed such corrupt crimes, so the Democratic Party, which entrusted the cat with the fish, must bear joint responsibility," and asked, "Why is former leader Song silent about appointing such a person to the high-ranking position of Deputy Secretary-General?"

Young Supreme Council member Jang Ye-chan also said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "Silence in politics is not golden but irresponsible. Former leader Song, who is eating baguettes in Paris, why are you silent?" and added, "Don’t you see the circumstances where money envelopes were distributed to make yourself the leader? Now is not the time to leisurely walk the Champs-?lys?es. Please do not remain silent and respond."

Lawmaker Yoon, who was subjected to the search and seizure this time, previously helped with election campaigning in Song Young-gil’s 2021 campaign along with former Deputy Secretary-General Lee. There is also a possibility that the prosecution’s focus could shift to former leader Song and other Democratic Party lawmakers. The Democratic Party, already divided into pro-Lee Jae-myung and anti-Lee factions due to Lee’s judicial risks, could fall into further chaos.

The Democratic Party has claimed this is a "political investigation by the prosecution." Lawmaker Yoon issued a statement raising his voice, calling it "an unprecedented political oppression targeting the opposition party convention," while lawmaker Lee described it as "barbaric politics by the prosecution focused on political oppression."

On the same day, lawmaker Yoon Geon-young said on MBC’s "Kim Jong-bae’s Focus," "Is it acceptable for the prosecution to conduct investigations like picking at dried persimmons?" and lawmaker Woo Sang-ho said on KBS’s "Choi Kyung-young’s Strong Current Affairs," "It seems like this was hastily brought up to cover up the Dae-mi wiretapping incident." Leader Lee also responded to reporters’ related questions by saying, "It is routine for the prosecution to distort and fabricate objective truth."

However, it is uncertain whether these explanations will convince the public. The Justice Party also pointed out, "The phrase ‘oppression of the opposition party’ is not a magical tool to be used anytime," and warned, "If the phrase ‘oppression of the opposition party’ is used indiscriminately even when there are legitimate allegations, the opposition party becomes like the boy who cried wolf, and the public turns away from the opposition."

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