Former DP head returns home, vows to address scandal

Former Democratic Party (DP) leader Song Young-gil said he would "take the lead" in addressing a snowballing scandal over an alleged cash-for-votes scheme upon his arrival in Korea on Monday afternoon.

Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil is surrounded by reporters as he exits immigration at Incheon International Airport on Monday. [YONHAP]

Former Democratic Party (DP) leader Song Young-gil said he would "take the lead" in addressing a snowballing scandal over an alleged cash-for-votes scheme upon his arrival in Korea on Monday afternoon.

“This affair arose because of me, and I will therefore responsibly take the lead in addressing this problem,” Song said in his first remarks to reporters after landing at Incheon International Airport at 3 p.m. from Paris.

Song also offered an apology for the scandal, in which several of his close allies within the DP are accused of distributing envelopes containing cash totaling 94 million won ($70,570) to party members and lawmakers to help Song's ultimately successful bid for the party chairmanship ahead of the DP's national convention in May 2021.

“There is a lot of serious work to be done in the current difficult economic climate, and I am very sorry that this [scandal] has happened and is becoming a cause of concern for the people and my comrades in the party,” he said.

But the former DP leader said that “there are many issues” related to the alleged bribery scheme that he was not aware of, and that he would now “begin to examine the situation.”

At a press conference in Paris prior to his return to Korea, Song denied being aware of the alleged bribery campaign in the lead-up to the party convention in 2021.

Song has vowed to actively cooperate with the prosecution's investigation of the scandal, which has engulfed at least 6 sitting DP lawmakers, according to media reports.

Prosecutors raided the residences and offices of DP lawmakers Youn Kwan-suk and Lee Sung-man on Wednesday. The two, who served as Song's party leadership campaign aides, are suspected of being involved in distributing money to other DP lawmakers and members.

“If prosecutors summon me even today, I will actively respond,” Song said at the airport, adding, “I, Song Young-gil, would never try to dodge [accusations] and would never run away, no matter what happens.”

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]