Prosecutors launch raids on close ally of former DP chief

Politics

Published: 27 Jul. 2023, 18:37

Prosecutors launch raids on close ally of former DP chief

Song Young-gil, center, former chairman of the Democratic Party, speaks in front of reporters on Tuesday at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho District, southern Seoul, after filing a complaint against President Yoon Suk Yeol accusing him of lying about a fraud case concerning his mother-in-law. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors on Thursday raided 15 locations linked to a former business lobbyist and close ally to Song Young-gil, ex-chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), in connection to a cash-for-vote scandal involving the party’s 2021 leadership election.

Prosecutors said they believe Song’s confidant, who’s only been identified by the surname Park, illegally donated over 300 million won ($235,000) to the former DP leader.

At least 40 million won is believed to have been given to Song in early 2021, as the politician was trying to win the DP national convention, which he eventually did.

Exactly how the donations were used and where the donations originally came from will be investigated, prosecutors said.

Park, who previously led the Yeosu Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Yeosu, South Jeolla, is reportedly under investigation from the Suncheon branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office on charges of embezzlement and fraud.

Prosecutors believe Song’s close aides — and possibly even Song himself — distributed cash envelopes worth over 90 million won to party members and lawmakers ahead of the DP’s convention to help Song win.

Song has adamantly denied any wrongdoing and criticized the Yoon Suk Yeol administration for sabotaging him and his aides.

Some 20 DP lawmakers have been accused of receiving the cash envelopes.

On Thursday morning, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, which is probing Song’s scandal, raided 15 locations linked with Park, including his residence and office.

So far, prosecutors said they have found evidence indicating Park wired 80 million won to a think tank run by Song while Park led the Yeosu Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2018 to 2021.

About 250 million won was allegedly wired to Song’s think tank through a waste disposal company run by Park.

Prosecutors who spoke to reporters Thursday said they were considering asking a local court to issue pre-trial detention warrants for former and current DP lawmakers involved in the scandal after a previous attempt fell through.

Under the law, lawmakers hold immunity from arrest while the National Assembly is in session unless a majority of lawmakers present vote in favor of the arrest during a plenary session.

The DP enjoys a parliamentary majority.

Last June, arrest motions filed against Reps. Lee Sung-man and Youn Kwan-suk were both rejected by the National Assembly.

Lee and Youn left the DP shortly before the vote as they faced allegations of distributing the cash envelopes.

The duo are now independent lawmakers.

BY KIM CHUL-WOONG, LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]