Prosecutors raid home of ex-aide of former DP chief Song Young-gil

Prosecutors raided the home of a former schedule manager of Song Young-gil, an ex-leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), on Friday in connection with a cash-for-vote scandal involving the party's 2021 leadership election.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sent investigators to the home of the ex-aide, surnamed Lee, to seize evidence.

The scandal centers on allegations that Song's campaign distributed cash envelopes totaling 94 million won ($74,161) to 20 DP lawmakers and other party members in the runup to the party's leadership election in May 2021, which he ultimately won.

Lee was in charge of managing Song's schedule and accounting for his campaign around the time of the election.

Earlier this month, another former aide to Song was arrested in connection with the scandal on charges of involvement in the distribution of 67.5 million won of the total in collusion with other campaign officials to help get Song elected.

Lee reportedly arranged a meeting of lawmakers supporting Song ahead of the party election where, prosecutors suspect, former DP Rep. Youn Kwan-suk distributed cash envelopes to 10 lawmakers. Youn quit the party and became an independent after the scandal emerged.

Prosecutors plan to summon Lee for questioning after analyzing materials seized in the search.

Yonhap