Prosecutors indict former DP chief for election law violations, bribery

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Prosecutors indict former DP chief for election law violations, bribery

Published: 04 Jan. 2024, 17:13

Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil riding the police vehicle from the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District on Dec. 18 after his arrest warrant was reviewed. The arrest warrant was issued at midnight. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors indicted former Democratic Party (DP) leader Song Yong-gil for violating election laws and bribery.

Song, the former head of Korea's largest political party, was arrested on Dec. 19 for allegedly bribing DP lawmakers and party officials to secure his leadership position during the 2021 convention.

The former DP chairman faces up to 18 months of detention during his trial.

Song is accused of distributing 66.5 million won ($50,000)), funded by donors, to around 20 DP lawmakers, including former legislator Kim Nam-kook, who drew fire for his massive and allegedly dodgy cryptocurrency investments.

The bribes amount to 94 million won when payments to nonelected DP officials are included.

Additionally, Song is accused of receiving 763 million won in illegal political funds from seven entrepreneurs through his nonprofit sponsorship organization between 2020 and 2021.

This sum includes 40 million won Song allegedly received from the former head of the Yeosu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Park Yong-ha, related to a business favor.

DP members accuse Song of manipulating the primaries to favor Lee Jae-myung as the DP's presidential candidate for the 2022 election over his rival Lee Nak-yon.

Song is accused of giving up his constituency in Gyeyang, Incheon, which he had secured in five elections, to allow Lee Jae-myung to inherit it after the latter's loss in the 2022 presidential election.

Lee won the by-election, obtaining his first National Assembly badge in 2022.

The prosecutors not only accuse Song of benefiting from the election through bribed votes but also utilizing a nonprofit organization as a personal conduit for generating illegal political funds.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [[email protected]]