Has Pandora's Box Opened... Lee Jeong-geun Sparks Expanded Investigation into Democratic Party 'Money Envelope' Allegations

JTBC report scene related to the Telegram message sent by Lee Jung-geun, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, to a former aide of Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party. [Image source=JTBC Newsroom]

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Attention is focused on how far the prosecution's investigation will expand regarding the Democratic Party convention 'money envelope' allegations that surfaced during the investigation of former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun.

It is reported that during the forensic examination of Lee's confiscated mobile phone, the prosecution secured not only related call recordings containing Lee's voice but also Telegram messages sent to a former aide of former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, making an expansion of the investigation inevitable.

According to the legal community on the 13th, the prosecution detected signs that 'money envelopes' were distributed to incumbent Democratic Party lawmakers during the party leader election process at the May 2021 Democratic Party convention and launched a full-scale investigation.

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol) conducted extensive raids on the homes and offices of about ten people, including three-term senior Democratic Party lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok (Incheon Namdong-eul) and Lee Seong-man (Incheon Bupyeong-gap), Kang Rae-gu, president of the Korea Public Institution Audit Association, and former leader Song's aide Park Mo.

The prosecution is reported to have uncovered allegations that during the 2021 Democratic Party convention, Lawmaker Yoon and others received 60 million won from Kang through former Deputy Secretary-General Lee and distributed it to ten incumbent Democratic Party lawmakers and others. Additionally, the prosecution is reportedly confirming separate evidence that Kang spent about 30 million won to distribute envelopes containing tens of thousands of won each to Democratic Party delegates and other convention-related personnel.

The prosecution believes that the amount contained in the envelopes was 3 million won each for incumbent lawmakers and 500,000 won each for delegates.

Although Lawmaker Yoon and others involved have completely denied the allegations and strongly criticized the prosecution's investigation, the evidence disclosed through media reports reveals concrete circumstances suggesting that 'money envelopes' were indeed distributed, making an expansion of the investigation unavoidable.

During the forensic examination of Lee's mobile phone, the prosecution reportedly secured a recording in which Kang said, "Ten envelopes are prepared, so please deliver them to Lawmaker Yoon."

There are also reports of recordings capturing Lee meeting Lawmaker Yoon at a restaurant during the time the 'money envelopes' were delivered, handing over the envelopes, and instructing to additionally deliver envelopes to five others who had not yet received them.

It was also revealed that Lee informed former leader Song Young-gil's aide via Telegram message that the 'money envelopes' had been successfully delivered.

Lawmakers Yoon, Lee, and former Deputy Secretary-General Lee, all under investigation by the prosecution, helped with election campaigns in former leader Song's camp in 2021. After Song was elected party leader, Lawmaker Yoon was appointed Secretary-General responsible for party organization and fund management, and Lee was appointed Deputy Secretary-General during Song's tenure.

There are remarks within the prosecution that a 'Pandora's box' has been opened.

Multiple mobile phones of former Deputy Secretary-General Lee, secured and forensically examined by the prosecution, reportedly contain automatically recorded calls with various individuals over several years. Some reports suggest there are as many as 30,000 recordings.

Given Lee's reportedly extensive interpersonal network, it is difficult to predict how far the prosecution's investigation will expand, as it is unclear what 'bombshells' might be contained in his mobile phones.

Evidence uncovered during the forensic examination of Lee's mobile phones has already led to Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae being indicted on bribery charges, and Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hak-young and former presidential secretary Noh Young-min are under investigation for obstruction of business related to employment at Korea Integrated Logistics.

Since this investigation into illegal political funds at the Democratic Party convention targets opposition party incumbent lawmakers, the prosecution reportedly spent considerable time conducting preliminary investigations before switching to a public investigation yesterday.

The prosecution has recently reinforced its investigative team by adding six prosecutors to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which is handling the case. This move reflects the prosecution's determination to concentrate investigative resources and conclude the investigation promptly, given that it targets opposition lawmakers.

Investigations into the Democratic Party lawmakers suspected of receiving the 'money envelopes' are also expected to begin soon.

Yesterday, former Deputy Secretary-General Lee was sentenced by the court to 1 year and 6 months in prison for violating the Political Funds Act and 3 years in prison for other charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, totaling 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment.

Lee's conviction on most charges related to receiving bribes amounting to about 1 billion won and the sentence exceeding the prosecution's demand is expected to give momentum to the prosecution's investigation.

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