Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at Song Young-gil's Residence, Support Organizations, and Campaign Associates over 'Money Envelope' Allegations

by Choi Sukjin

Published 29 Apr.2023 10:53(KST)

Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution investigating the Democratic Party's 'money envelope' allegations conducted a comprehensive search of former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil's residence and other locations on the 29th.

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol) carried out searches in the morning at the addresses of former leader Song and associates from his primary campaign, as well as the office of Song's support organization, the "Institute for Livelihood Issues."

Song, who recently returned from France, has residences not only at his registered address in Songpa-gu but also in Incheon Gyeyang-gu, his former electoral district. Therefore, the prosecution dispatched prosecutors and investigators to both locations to conduct searches.

The prosecution, which has been investigating the case focusing on nine donors involved in distributing money envelopes during the 2021 Democratic Party leadership election, recently completed verification of recipients, including Democratic Party lawmakers who received the envelopes, and on this day began a forced investigation into former leader Song.

According to the search warrants for Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok and others, Yoon and Kang Rae-gu, standing auditors of the Korea Water Resources Corporation, delivered a total of 60 million KRW to Democratic Party lawmakers in two installments of 30 million KRW each around April 28, 2021, when the party leadership primary voting schedule began. Additionally, around late April of the same year, they distributed a total of 20 million KRW, giving 500,000 KRW each to 40 individuals, including 20 regional situation room chiefs and 20 situation room chiefs working in Song's primary campaign. Prior to that, between late March and April 10 of the same year, over 10 regional headquarters chiefs received a total of 14 million KRW.

Earlier, the prosecution summoned and investigated Kang and former party deputy secretary-general Lee Jeong-geun in succession. Based on related audio recordings obtained through forensic analysis of Lee's mobile phone, as well as work logs and schedules seized from Yoon's constituency office and residence, the prosecution is reported to have intensely questioned Lee about the recipients who received money envelopes at that time.

Immediately after the case became public through the media, former leader Song denied any involvement, drawing a line by claiming it was a personal deviation by former deputy secretary-general Lee.

However, a phone call recording between former deputy secretary-general Lee and Kang, released later by JTBC, included Kang saying, "I just greeted with what 'Seongman hyung (Assemblyman Lee Seong-man) prepared.' Then (former leader Song) said, 'Oh, well done. Good job.'" This can be interpreted as Song receiving reports about the distribution of 'money envelopes' by Chairman Kang and others and encouraging them.

Additionally, a conversation was revealed in which Kang mentioned the real names of individuals who received money and suggested that Song himself arranged funds and gave money to someone separately from former deputy secretary-general Lee and others.

The prosecution has imposed a travel ban on former leader Song, who returned from Paris, France, on the 24th, and has been conducting the investigation.