[Exclusive] Key Figures in the 'Money Envelope' Case Are Members of the Democratic Party's Small Group

Lee Jeong-geun manages finances as general affairs... Supports issue response and party events

As the prosecution investigates allegations of 'cash envelope distribution' during the Democratic Party of Korea's leadership election, this newspaper's investigation has confirmed that key figures involved in the money transfer were members of a specific small group within the party. This is seen as evidence that these individuals maintained close relationships even before working together in former leader Song Young-gil's campaign. At the same time, it appears to be a key to unraveling questions about how incumbent lawmakers and out-of-office figures active in local areas collaborated to participate in the cash envelope distribution process, drawing attention to the future direction of the prosecution's investigation.

Lee Jeong-geun, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Korea [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 17th, combining information from political circles, the legal community, and this newspaper's investigation, it was found that Lee Sung-man, a Democratic Party lawmaker involved in the money transfer, Kang Rae-gu, president of the Korea Audit Association, Lee Jung-geun, former deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Party (indicted and detained), and Cho Taek-sang, former political vice mayor of Incheon, all participated together in a specific small group within the party formed during the Moon Jae-in administration. The group had about 20 members, and Lee, the former deputy secretary-general, reportedly served as the group's treasurer, managing membership fees. The group was understood to be a mix of both out-of-office and incumbent figures. Formed for social purposes, the members regularly met during the Moon Jae-in administration to share opinions on major issues and supported each other during party events.

The group has recently come under scrutiny as many of its members have been placed under the prosecution's investigation. The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-chul) stated in a warrant issued on the 12th for a search and seizure targeting lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Sung-man that nine individuals participated in delivering 94 million won to 40 people, including incumbent lawmakers. The nine each played different roles. Prosecutors found that in April 2021, Kang Rae-gu, following instructions from lawmaker Yoon, raised 30 million won through acquaintances, placed 3 million won in each of 10 envelopes, and delivered them to Yoon via former deputy secretary-general Lee, who then distributed the cash envelopes to party lawmakers the next day. Kang also created another set of 10 envelopes containing 3 million won each upon Yoon's additional request and delivered them through Lee to Yoon. Former vice mayor Cho Taek-sang, under Kang's instructions, raised 14 million won, placing 500,000 won in each envelope, and delivered them on March 30 and April 10, 2021, to about 10 regional headquarters chiefs and 7 others. Prosecutors believe that an additional 20 million won raised by Kang was split into 500,000 won envelopes and delivered twice in April 2021 to 20 regional situation room chiefs to encourage election campaigning.

The prosecution is currently focusing its investigation on the nine donors listed in the warrant issued during the search and seizure of lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Sung-man. A prosecution official stated, "Since the investigation of recipients must ultimately be confirmed through the donors, we plan to focus on investigating the donors first," adding, "We will conduct the investigation carefully because prematurely identifying and investigating recipients may lead to their exclusion from future indictments."

Earlier, the prosecution stated that the individuals "collaborated with the aim of electing leader Song Young-gil," but the specific process remains under investigation. Meanwhile, the small group activities within the Democratic Party, involving former deputy secretary-general Lee, Kang Rae-gu, president of the Korea Audit Association, and former Daejeon Dong-gu councilor Kang Hwa-pyeong, who are either not incumbent lawmakers or are local figures, may provide clues to the motives behind their participation in the money transfer process.

The prosecution summoned Kang Rae-gu, president of the Korea Audit Association, and Kang Hwa-pyeong, former Daejeon Dong-gu councilor, for questioning as suspects the day before. Kang is suspected of being a key figure who managed organization within Song Young-gil's campaign and personally prepared and delivered 80 million won out of the 94 million won distributed during the leadership election.

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