Song Young-gil: "Don't Harass Those Around Me, Arrest Me Instead"

Press Conference on the 2nd: "Prosecution, No Evidence Found
Life Wrecking and Dusting Off Separate Investigations...
Summoning for an Incident from 2 Years Ago, Political Planned Investigation"

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party who is under suspicion for the 'cash envelope' scandal at the 2021 Democratic Party convention, voluntarily appeared at the prosecution on the 2nd and said, "Please do not harass the people around me, and I hope Song Young-gil will be arrested."

Former leader Song Young-gil, identified as the key suspect in the 2021 Democratic Party of Korea's party convention cash envelope scandal, voluntarily appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 2nd and is making a statement. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On that day, former leader Song held a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in the morning and made this statement. Although Song had announced his voluntary appearance the day before, the prosecution said that the investigation schedule was not set due to the unilateral plan of the person under investigation and sent Song back from the lobby of the building.

After his appearance at the prosecution failed, former leader Song held a press conference and said, "Once again, I am sorry and apologize for the controversy over money and goods at the Democratic Party convention two years ago," but added, "As I said at the Paris press conference on the 22nd of last month and the return press conference on the 24th, everything is my responsibility, and I said to summon me for investigation, but (the prosecution) has not summoned me even though a week has passed since my return, and they are harassing the people around me."

He said, "The prosecution is conducting ruthless acts of raiding and coercing 20-30-year-old secretaries under the pretext of search and voluntary accompaniment, including newlyweds who just got married in their 20s raising infants, and working moms who are struggling to raise their young sons alone," and criticized the prosecution, saying, "Investigations should be based on evidence, not indiscriminately summoning people and coercing statements through separate investigations with threats and intimidation, which is an archaic investigation."

He also said, "I believe that cruel prosecution investigation practices that harass people around me and commit character assassination through life-long and far-reaching separate investigations should not be repeated," and pointed out, "Because no evidence has come out, they are conducting a life-long investigation that thoroughly digs into everyone around me."

Former leader Song emphasized, "The main culprit of this case was identified as Kang Rae-gu and investigated, but the arrest warrant was dismissed because the truth was not revealed. The only basis for the investigation, the unreliable recording of Lee Jung-geun, lacks evidentiary power and, due to Lee's reversal of testimony during the trial process, prosecution is no longer possible."

He then claimed that this investigation is a 'political planned investigation' by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to sway public opinion.

He said, "The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 and 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office focused all their efforts on investigating Representative Lee Jae-myung. However, with little effect and public opinion worsening due to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's humiliating diplomacy with the U.S. and Japan and economic incompetence, Division 2 stepped in and is focusing all efforts on politically planned investigations targeting Song Young-gil," and criticized, "Public opinion cannot be changed by prosecution's planned investigations."

Former leader Song said, "I have resigned as party leader, submitted my resignation as a member of the National Assembly, declared that I will not run in the next general election, and have become a professor conducting research and lectures in Paris, but to summon me for something that happened two years ago and have all seven prosecutors of the Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office mobilized for a political planned investigation is too much," calling it "excessive."

He continued, "To avoid criticism that this case is a political planned investigation, the illegal act of conducting double separate investigations on those around Song Young-gil in addition to the separate investigation of Lee Jung-geun's personal corruption case must stop," and urged, "I call for the case to be transferred to the Public Security Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for a fair and swift investigation." He also added, "In the current situation of ordinary people's livelihoods and national security and diplomatic crises, please do not drag this out to annoy the public and be criticized as a political investigation for the general election, but quickly conclude the case."

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