Prosecution Clears 10 Former and Current Lawmakers of DPK in 'Cash Envelope Scandal'

Three Years After Prosecutors Launched Investigation
Impact of Court Ruling That Lee Junggeun’s Recorded File Was Illegally Collected

The prosecution has cleared former and current lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) who had been suspected of receiving envelopes of cash during the party convention in 2021.

On the 9th, in the wake of the Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law at the Prosecutor's Office summoning former Special Warfare Commander Kwak Joonggeun for questioning, the Taegukgi and the prosecutor's flags were fluttering in the wind in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office building. Photo by Huh Young-han

According to legal sources on May 4, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 (headed by Chief Prosecutor Lee Sang-hyuk) of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office issued a decision of "no charges" in March for all 10 individuals: lawmakers Kim Youngho, Min Byungdeok, Park Sungjoon, Baek Hyeryeon, Jeon Yonggi, former lawmakers Park Youngsun, Kim Namguk, Kim Seungnam, Lee Yongbin, and Hwang Unha from the Korea Innovation Party. They had been under investigation for alleged violations of the Political Parties Act and for accepting bribes.

These individuals had been accused of receiving envelopes containing 3 million won in cash from former lawmaker Yoon Kwansuk in exchange for supporting former DPK leader Song Younggil ahead of the party convention in April 2021.

Previously, the court determined that the key evidence—a recorded file from the mobile phone of Lee Junggeun, former DPK deputy secretary-general—had been collected illegally and subsequently acquitted those involved. This judgment appears to have influenced the prosecution's decision to drop the charges.

In April 2023, the prosecution launched a full-scale investigation by conducting its first search and seizure related to the allegations. Afterwards, lawmaker Heo Jongsik, along with former lawmakers Yoon Kwansuk, Lee Sungman, and Lim Jongseong, were found guilty in the first trial for giving and receiving envelopes of cash. However, the appellate court ruled that the recording from former deputy secretary-general Lee's mobile phone was inadmissible due to illegal collection, resulting in acquittals on appeal.

Following this, former DPK leader Song Younggil was also acquitted in both the first and second trials. Except for former lawmaker Lee, whose acquittal was finalized by the Supreme Court, the remaining individuals were cleared of all charges in February after the prosecution either withdrew or abandoned its appeals.

However, former lawmaker Yoon Kwansuk was sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court, as he was found guilty of receiving 60 million won from officials in Song Younggil’s campaign camp for the purpose of preparing cash envelopes to be distributed to lawmakers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.