Prosecutors Request Entry Records of Lawmaker in 'Money Envelope Suspicion'... National Assembly Asks to Follow Formal Procedures

The prosecution investigating the 2021 party convention cash envelope allegations involving the Democratic Party of Korea has requested the National Assembly to provide access records of personnel from former leader Song Young-gil's campaign. However, the National Assembly Secretariat has conveyed that voluntary submission is difficult and asked for formal procedures to be followed.

Prosecution
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the National Assembly on the 1st, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently requested voluntary submission of access records to the National Assembly Main Building and Members' Office Buildings for about 10 lawmakers and aides who worked in former leader Song's campaign during the party convention.

The prosecution believes that cash envelopes were exchanged around the National Assembly Main Building, where the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee meeting room is located, and the Members' Office Buildings, and requested the records to cross-check the movements of the investigation subjects. However, the National Assembly Secretariat reportedly expressed a refusal, stating, "Please request the access records through formal procedures such as obtaining a search warrant."

Until now, although the National Assembly was not obligated to provide access records when the prosecution requested them for a small number of individuals with specific charges, it cooperated by providing the information. This time, however, since the request was made for more than 10 people without clearly stating the purpose, the National Assembly finds it difficult to comply.

The prosecution rebutted, saying, "It is hard to understand." A prosecution official said regarding the National Assembly Secretariat's claim that the purpose of the data request was unclear, "When sending cooperation letters to external agencies, we usually only include the case number and explain the investigation details verbally or by phone. The National Assembly should know why we are requesting the data."

Regarding claims that the prosecution is demanding excessive personal information, the prosecution explained, "We did not request personal identification details but only asked for access records that are usually provided when the prosecution requests them."

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