DP leader apologizes over ‘cash envelope’ scandal involving party members

Apr 18, 2023, 09:21 am

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Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, bows his head in apology over a campaign fundraising scandal that occurred during the 2023 party convention, during a leadership meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on April 17, 2023./ Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporters Lee Ha-eun, Park Ji-eun, Kim Chul-joon

Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), apologized to the public Monday over allegations that cash envelopes were distributed to lawmakers and party members as bribes ahead of a 2021 national convention. The DP decided to take all-out measures to deal with the situation by asking former party leader Song Young-gil, who was elected in the previous convention, to return home early. In the meantime, the prosecution’s investigation is expanding to lawmakers suspected to delivering cash envelopes, the impact is expected to grow depending on the results.

“As party leader, I deeply apologize for causing people concern over this issue,” Lee said during a party meeting at the National Assembly. “We will bear the responsibility and take corresponding action on verified evidence.”

The DP has not expressed its position on the phone logs of former DP deputy secretary general Lee Jung-geun, who was convicted in a separate bribery case last week. As public sentiment deteriorated sharply after the record of related officials showed that illegal funds had been funneled into the DP voters via Lee and Song’s aides. With the general election about a year away, concerns that suspicions could spread throughout the party seems to have played a major role.

The DP decided not to conduct its own fact-finding investigation. “There is a clear limit in our party uncovering the truth. So we request a swift and fair investigation that excludes political considerations from investigative agencies,” Lee said.

In the meantime, starting with the investigation with suspect Kang Rae-gu, a former head of the Association of Public Institution Auditors, the prosecution will soon summon nine people, including DP Reps Youn Kwan-suk and Lee Sung-man on suspicions of illegally giving money and valuables.

After completing the investigation, the government plans to continue investigating suspects allegedly receiving cash envelopes. Nine people are reportedly suspected of delivering cash envelopes and number of incumbent lawmakers are suspected to receiving money.

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