Prosecutors Raid Song Young-gil's Primary Consulting Firm... Signs of 'Outsider Organization Payment' (Comprehensive)

The prosecution has detected evidence that an external organization of former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil paid the primary campaign expenses on his behalf during the 2021 Democratic Party leadership election and has launched a forced investigation.

Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, who is under suspicion of money envelope bribery related to the party convention, is making a statement after leaving the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 7th without being questioned. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol) is executing search warrants this morning at three to four locations, including consulting firm A in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and the residence of its representative Jeon. Employees of 'Peace and Livelihood Issues Research Institute' (Meoksayeon), an external support organization for former leader Song, are also included in the search targets.

The prosecution is investigating the possibility that Meoksayeon served as a personal funding channel for former leader Song, separate from the previously known '94 million won distribution suspicion.' During the process of tracing the flow of funds, it is reported that some of Meoksayeon's money flowed into firm A.

Meoksayeon, a corporation under the Ministry of Unification that researches unification, welfare, and economic policies, is suspected by the prosecution of paying consulting fees to firm A on behalf of the primary campaign and hiding this by signing false service contracts.

Firm A signed a 550 million won promotional consulting contract with former leader Song, who ran for Seoul mayor in the June 1 local elections last year. The firm's representative Jeon also served as the head of the Promotion and Communication Headquarters at Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign last year. The slogan 'For Me, Lee Jae-myung' used at the time is known to be Jeon's work. Jeon was also active in the campaigns of former President Moon Jae-in in the 2012 and 2017 presidential elections. Notably, during the 2017 presidential election, he gained attention by creating the policy shopping mall 'Moon Jae-in 1st Street.'

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