Ex-DP leader appears before prosecution for questioning over 'cash envelope' scandal

Politics

Published: 08 Dec. 2023, 11:57

Ex-DP leader appears before prosecution for questioning over 'cash envelope' scandal

Song Young-gil, former head of the Democratic Party, speaks to reporters ahead of being questioned by prosecutors in an investigation into a cash-for-votes scandal at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul on Friday. [YONHAP]

Song Young-gil, a former head of the liberal Democratic Party (DP), appeared for his first round of questioning by prosecutors in an investigation into a cash-for-votes scandal on Friday.

Song arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at 8:25 a.m. to be questioned on charges of bribery and illegal political funding regarding the DP's leadership election in 2021 for the first time since the prosecution launched an investigation in April.

The scandal centers on suspicions that Song's allies distributed envelopes containing cash totaling 94 million won ($70,996) to 20 party members and lawmakers to help Song be elected as DP leader ahead of the party's national convention in May 2021. Prosecutors suspect Song was involved in the handout of the cash envelopes, each containing 3 million won.

Song is accused of violating the Political Party Act and the Political Funds Act. He has denied the allegations.

"The prosecution has been carrying out a politically planned investigation," Song told reporters ahead of the questioning. "Since they weren't able to properly manipulate evidence against me, they searched and summoned some 100 people around me and are going all-in investigating a separate case."

Song read a five-page statement, calling the prosecution and Yoon Suk Yeol administration's "targeted" investigations against the DP and critical media "political retaliation."

He insinuated he will exercise his right to remain silent during the prosecution's investigation, saying, "It's fruitless to go in front of prosecutors and explain how unfair it is."

On April 24, Song returned from Paris to take political responsibility as the scandal snowballed. He had been working as a visiting professor at the ESCP Business School in France since December 2022.

Song tried to appear in front of the prosecution in May and June but was turned away.

Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, who worked for Song's campaign, was arrested in August and is undergoing trial on charges of handing out the cash envelopes in connection with the bribery scandal.

Song is also accused of receiving some 40 million won in bribes from Park Yong-ha, a former chief of the Yeosu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, through the Research Institute for Peace & Livelihood, Song's support group, in return for resolving licensing issues from January 2020 to August 2021.

The prosecution reportedly prepared a 200-page questionnaire for Song regarding the allegations.

Prosecutors reportedly plan to consider seeking an arrest warrant for Song after reviewing his attitude during the questioning.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]