Yoon Kwan-seok's Side Admits Receiving 20 Money Envelopes... "Each Envelope Contained 1 Million Won"

On the 18th, the office of Representative Yoon Kwan-seok (Independent), who was indicted and detained over the Democratic Party's 'party convention money envelope suspicion,' claimed that they received 20 money envelopes containing 1 million won each from former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun. This marks a partial acknowledgment of the facts, contrary to their previous stance of completely denying the charges.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the first preparatory hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-2 (Presiding Judges Kim Jung-gon, Kim Mi-kyung, Heo Kyung-moo), Yoon's defense attorney stated, "We deeply reflect on the involvement in the crime and acknowledge most of the facts except for some exaggerated parts." However, he added, "The defendant said that the money inside the envelopes was not 3 million won as alleged, but 1 million won."

This implies an admission to receiving 20 money envelopes in two installments ahead of the May 2021 Democratic Party convention, intended for delivery to incumbent Democratic Party lawmakers to support former leader Song Young-gil's election. However, the amount was reduced from 60 million won to 20 million won.

Regarding the allegation that Representative Yoon instructed, encouraged, or demanded the preparation of money envelopes to be distributed to lawmakers, the defense said, "We believe it was a consultation with the primary campaign staff, not an instruction or demand."

They further stated, "Yoon did not ask for money for himself but intended to discuss and decide on giving it to other lawmakers," adding, "The allegation that the defendant demanded money for himself is incorrect." They also responded, "How the defendant used the money he received is a matter for the investigation team to prove."

The prosecution reiterated, "Based on the evidence and testimonies obtained so far, the defendant was not merely a messenger but held the authority to independently decide to whom the money envelopes would be delivered," and requested, "Please clarify your position on this matter directly."

The court remarked, "If the recipients and methods of distributing the money envelopes were already decided and Representative Yoon merely delivered them, there could be doubts about whether he should be punished. However, if Yoon had the authority to decide which lawmakers to give the money to based on his own judgment, that would be a different issue."

According to the Political Parties Act, providing financial benefits to election campaign personnel can result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine. However, if such acts are instructed, encouraged, or demanded, the punishment can be imprisonment of up to five years or a fine, making the penalty more severe.

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