Prosecutors Conduct Additional Search of Song Young-gil Camp Official in Democratic Party 'Money Envelope Distribution Suspicion' Case

Search and Seizure of Regional Headquarters Chiefs in Primary Election Camp... Pressure on Former Representative Song

The prosecution is stepping up pressure on former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil by conducting additional raids related to allegations of money envelope distribution during the Democratic Party leadership election.

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is meeting with Korean correspondents at an office in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris on the 22nd of last month (local time) to express his position regarding the 2021 party convention cash envelope allegations. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol) is currently carrying out additional raids on Song's primary campaign regional headquarters chiefs and other campaign associates on the morning of the 1st.

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, the prosecution raided the residences of Song and his campaign associates, as well as the office of Song's support organization, the "Institute for Livelihood Issues."

The prosecution is investigating the case focusing on nine donors involved in distributing money envelopes during the 2021 Democratic Party leadership election. Recently, after completing verification of recipients including Democratic Party lawmakers who received the money envelopes, they have reportedly begun compulsory investigations targeting Song.

According to the search warrants for Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok and others, Yoon and Kang Rae-gu, standing audit committee members of Korea Water Resources Corporation, delivered 30 million won each twice, totaling 60 million won, to Democratic Party lawmakers around April 28, 2021, when the party leader election voting schedule began.

Additionally, around the end of April that year, 2 million won was distributed, with 50,000 won each given to 40 people, including 20 regional situation room chiefs and 20 situation room chiefs working in Song's campaign. Prior to that, between late March and April 10 of the same year, 14 million won was delivered to more than 10 regional headquarters chiefs.

Previously, the prosecution summoned and investigated Kang and former party deputy secretary-general Lee Jeong-geun in succession. Based on related audio recordings obtained through forensic analysis of Lee's mobile phone, as well as work logs and schedules seized from Yoon's constituency office and residence, the prosecution is known to have intensely questioned Lee about the recipients who received money envelopes at the time.

Immediately after the case was reported in the media, Song has drawn a line, claiming it was a personal deviation by Lee and has completely denied his own involvement.

The prosecution has imposed a travel ban on Song, who returned from Paris, France, on the 24th of last month, and has been conducting the investigation.

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