by Lee Hyeonjoo
by Keum Boryeong
Published 20 Apr.2023 10:01(KST)
The leadership of the People Power Party strongly criticized in unison the circumstances suggesting that 'money envelopes' were exchanged at the Democratic Party of Korea's party convention.
Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th, "An additional audio file has surfaced showing former leader Song Young-gil's direct or indirect involvement in distributing money envelopes," adding, "Former leader Song, who fled to France, shows no signs of returning to cooperate with the investigation."
Leader Kim questioned, "Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung reportedly had a 30-minute phone call with former leader Song. What on earth did they talk about?" He continued, "Did they coordinate their stories to conceal the truth, or did they discuss how to avoid public scrutiny?"
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
원본보기 아이콘He further stated, "Many citizens have doubts about whether there was any deal involved in Lee taking over former leader Song's constituency," and added, "Leader Lee should immediately address these concerns, order former leader Song to return promptly, and simultaneously instruct and encourage the Democratic Party to actively cooperate with the investigation."
He said, "Given that the party includes lawmakers like Ahn Min-seok, who went to Germany to spread baseless rumors; Jang Kyung-tae, who sent people to Cambodia while believing in pseudo lighting filming theories; and Yang Yi-won-young, who went to Japan, there are plenty of lawmakers who could be sent to France to ensure former leader Song's cooperation with the investigation," adding, "At the very least, lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Sung-man, who are under suspicion, should be immediately disciplined, but Leader Lee has taken no action, which only deepens suspicion."
Supreme Council member Kim Byung-min also pointed out, "New audio files related to the Democratic Party's money envelopes emerge almost daily, making words like shock and astonishment insufficient," and said, "As a reward for receiving money, lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok's sponsor's child was connected to Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign." Council member Kim warned, "Has the buying and selling of positions become normalized even in the presidential candidate's campaign? The party, which receives national subsidies funded by taxpayers, has revealed actions taken in exchange for sponsoring party positions, and if no measures are taken, suspicions against Leader Lee will grow."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
원본보기 아이콘Supreme Council member Cho Soo-jin also criticized, saying, "Considering that Leader Lee, who lost the presidential election, took over former leader Song's constituency in Incheon, the endpoint cannot be seen as former leader Song alone," and added, "A clumsy scapegoating will not succeed."
Young Supreme Council member Jang Ye-chan said at the meeting that day, "The '86 activist generation' must be permanently removed from politics," and urged, "I sternly call on Leader Lee to expel former leader Song and the lawmakers involved in the money envelope scandal to break the culture of money envelopes."
Park Dae-chul, chairman of the Policy Committee, also criticized, saying, "Seeing the Democratic Party's generous distribution of 3 million won envelopes as just meal and transportation expenses, the cry of a 20-something youth who left only 20,000 won with a message from his mother pierces the heart," and added, "Leader Lee raises his head high over his own illegal acts and refuses to apologize?does he selectively choose when to apologize?"
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