hankyoreh

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the top opposition Democratic Party, offers an apology for allegations of bribery ahead of a meeting of the party’s Supreme Council on April 17. (Yonhap)

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung apologized to the public on Monday regarding allegations that bribes were handed out by then-lawmaker Song Young-gil’s camp ahead of the 2021 Democratic Party national convention to help Song win the election for party leader.

“As party leader, I deeply apologize for causing concern to the public,” Lee said.

Lee said he would ask Song, who currently resides in France, to return to Korea promptly and promised to come up with measures to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

In addressing the issue, Lee tried to patch up the situation five days after allegations began to spread that envelopes of cash had been circulated to those with voting privileges ahead of the party chair election in 2021. However, some are criticizing the approach, saying it’s insufficient given the magnitude of the issue.

“As a political party in the Republic of Korea that must take profound responsibility for the democratic republic, I apologize once again for disappointing the people and causing them concern,” Lee said, addressing the allegations ahead of a Supreme Council meeting on Monday.

“I requested the early return of former party leader Song Young-gil,” Lee said. “The party will invest efforts into uncovering the exact facts and quickly sort out the situation.”

“There are clear limitations to any attempt by our party to investigate internally. I request the investigative agencies to conduct a quick and fair investigation that excludes political considerations,” Lee added. In other words, a fact-finding investigation would not be conducted at the party level.

The Hankyoreh spoke to Song Young-gil over the phone on Monday to hear his side of the story.

“This incident has nothing to do with me,” Song said, adding that he would hold a press conference in Paris later this week or early next week to clarify his position.

The remarks made by Lee on Monday represent his first official comment on the issue five days after last week’s raid of Democratic lawmakers Youn Kwan-suk and Lee Sung-man’s offices by the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office on charges of violating the Political Parties Act and the Political Fund Act.

His remarks are seen as recognition of the growing sense of crisis in his party. But not everyone is convinced that Lee is doing enough.

“Will measures like this put a lid on the public’s anger?” a first-time Democratic lawmaker asked, arguing that the party will face criticism in the future if stronger measures are not taken, such as the expulsion from the party of lawmakers proven to be involved in the alleged bribery.

A second-term lawmaker also argued that Song “shouldn’t deny the allegations but must come to Korea and take responsibility by being expelled from the party.”

The ruling party has also come forward to criticize the Democratic Party in connection with this latest incident.

“It turns out that, the Democratic Party, which emphasized democracy and tried to win votes with all kinds of righteous rhetoric on the surface, actually carried out a bankrolled election behind the scenes by handing out cash envelopes,” People Power Party leader Kim Gi-hyeon said at a meeting of his party’s Supreme Council, adding that “the people feel unfathomably betrayed.”

By Um Ji-won, staff reporter; Seo Young-ji, staff reporter; Lee Woo-yun, staff reporter; Sun Dam-eun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]