"Why Not Summon Me?" Song Young-gil Moves in Line with the Launch of the Opposition Innovation Committee

Song: "Prosecutors delayed summons due to lack of evidence and fabrication"
Ruling party: "Criminals run rampant... Opposition Innovation Committee is just another shield"

Song Young-gil, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and a key figure in the party convention money envelope scandal, is expanding his political activities. Despite the launch of the party's innovation committee amid various controversies including the money envelope scandal, he appears to be actively addressing the allegations rather than practicing self-restraint.

On the 21st, Song appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and repeatedly emphasized that the money envelope allegations are a planned investigation by the prosecution. Referring to the prosecution not summoning him yet, Song stated, "Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon says there is overwhelming evidence, so why haven't they called me? It's because there isn't overwhelming evidence, so they need time to fabricate evidence, which is why they are delaying it now."

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. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Song said, "(The prosecution) publicly disclosed the facts of the accusation as if performing a ritual, so how is my life now? For two months, I have been unable to do anything, almost like being confined, unable to meet people."

He continued, "Since this issue arose because of me, I said I would take political responsibility and resolve this situation. Personally and legally, it was an issue I was unaware of," adding, "If they try to trap me in court, I will fight thoroughly."

Song has recently broadened his range of activities. On the 16th, he participated in a KBS broadcast debate with former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, criticizing the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Since the money envelope allegations surfaced, Song had not conducted individual interviews with the media. However, with the official launch of the Democratic Party Innovation Committee (Innovation Committee) on the 20th, he appears to have resumed active engagement.

The Innovation Committee was established to comprehensively reform and overhaul internal misconduct within the party, including the money envelope scandal and the controversy over lawmaker Kim Nam-guk's large cryptocurrency holdings. Its first task is to address the money envelope allegations. Innovation Committee Chair Kim Eun-kyung stated, "The Democratic Party has lost the public's trust due to the party convention money envelope incident and the lawmaker cryptocurrency investment case," adding, "We will become an ethical party through efforts that peel off the skin and shave the bone."

Prior to her appointment as chair, Kim had suggested that the money envelope incident might have been fabricated, but she clarified, "That was a private remark. As the Innovation Committee chair, I say this is a serious incident for which the Democratic Party bears political and legal responsibility."

Song's decision to engage in public activities coinciding with the launch of the party's Innovation Committee seems to reflect his judgment that a more active explanation of the allegations is necessary. In the CBS radio interview, Song did not express specific views on the Innovation Committee's launch.

However, he explained his reason for participating in the interview: "The prosecution leaks investigation details to the media in real time, and since reports are being made, I felt the need to inform the public and share my position."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party's Innovation Committee as being practically dominated by pro-Lee Jae-myung factions, calling it merely an 'avatar of the party leadership.'

On the 18th, People Power Party senior spokesperson Yoo Sang-beom issued a statement criticizing Chair Kim's remark that "the money envelope allegations may have been fabricated," saying, "Within the Democratic Party, the propaganda that 'the money envelope incident is a prosecution plot' is intensifying, and Kim's remarks amount to granting impunity to criminals," adding, "Emboldened by this, the criminals have begun public activities and are running rampant."

He continued, "What kind of innovation can someone who repeats the Democratic Party's shameless claims so far bring?" and said, "The Democratic Party Innovation Committee, initiated by Kim Eun-kyung, is not a 'reform' but another 'bulletproof shield' for the Democratic Party."

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