[Editorial] Get to the bottom of the suspicion over DP

Despite the prosecution’s presentation of irrefutable evidence, the DP is bent on attacking the prosecution for political oppression.

Suspicions arose that more than 20 envelopes containing cash were handed out to members of the Democratic Party (DP) to help then-lawmaker Song Young-gil be elected as the party chair in its national convention in May 2021. The prosecution on Wednesday raided the offices of Rep. Youn Kwan-suk and Rep. Lee Sung-man, both close aides to Song, to find evidence of violating the Political Fund Act. We are dumbfounded at the suspicion that the majority party elected its new leader in such an aberrant way.

The details of the suspicion are concrete. If the prosecution had not presented tangible evidence to a court, it would have rejected the request for a search and seizure warrant. Prosecutors have already obtained records of more than 30,000 phone conversations between Lee Jung-geun — deputy secretary general of the DP at the time — and former and current lawmakers of the party, as well as Blue House officials and ministers and deputy ministers of the liberal administration.

Lee was already sentenced to four years and six months in jail in the first trial on charges of taking more than 1 billion won ($762,777) in bribes. The phone records suggest that a senior official at the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) gave 90 million won to Rep. Youn, a third-term lawmaker, through the deputy secretary general and 60 million of the money was delivered to 20 lawmakers (3 million won each) and the remaining 30 million won to 60 delegates (half a million won each).

The prosecution obtained audio clips that show the senior official at K-water delivering Rep. Youn’s demand for more money for his colleagues. If proven true, Youn instructed the diffusion of the cash to other lawmakers. The audio also suggests the possibility of Song getting involved in handing the cash to others. If the prosecution’s investigation ends up with Song, it could push the party into a serious crisis, as it coincides with the judicial risks of current Chair Lee Jae-myung over a plethora of allegations against him.

Rep. Youn and other suspects attacked the prosecution for “political oppression.” But the prosecution already indicted Rep. Noh Woong-rae for receiving 60 million won based on the phone records of the former deputy secretary general. The prosecution is also probing the suspicion that Noh Young-min, the former presidential chief of staff, was involved in helping the secretary general get a decent job in a public entity.

Despite the prosecution’s presentation of irrefutable evidence, the DP is bent on attacking the prosecution for political oppression. If it is really innocent, the party must convince the public of its innocence by refuting the suspicions. The prosecution also must not forget that only an investigation based on evidence can calm conspiracy theories.