DP lawmakers to quit party over convention bribery case

Two Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers embroiled in a bribery scandal linked to the party’s 2021 convention said they would leave the party Wednesday.

Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, left, and Rep. Lee Sung-man [YONHAP]

Two Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers embroiled in a bribery scandal linked to the party’s 2021 convention said they would leave the party Wednesday.

The move came a single day after former DP leader Song Young-gil voluntarily appeared at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho District, southern Seoul, and pleaded with authorities to question him regarding the scandal.

Prosecutors believe Song’s close aides — and possibly even Song himself — distributed cash envelopes to party members and lawmakers ahead of the DP’s 2021 convention to help Song’s ultimately successful bid for the party chairmanship.

Prosecutors turned Song away Tuesday, citing scheduling conflicts. Song has yet to be summoned for questioning, unlike his several aides.

Talking to reporters outside the prosecution building, Song urged prosecutors not to harass the people around him, saying he would take full responsibility for his actions.

Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, who represents Namdong District B in Incheon, and Rep. Lee Sung-man, who represents Bupyeong District A in Incheon, said Wednesday they are leaving the DP during a meeting held among the party’s leadership behind closed doors.

The prosecution alleges that Youn and Lee distributed the cash envelopes.

The current DP head Lee Jae-myung said the lawmakers came to their own decision to leave the party.

The party leader dodged further questions from the press.

“I deeply regret the burden that I have caused to the party and the concerns that I have raised among the public,” Youn told reporters after news broke about his departure.

Youn continued he had “much to say” about whether the accusations were true or false but said he would spare the details for another time.

Rep. Lee Sung-man apologized to the party and the public as well, saying he would battle the case in court.

As to why he decided to leave the party, Lee Sung-man said he had continuously discussed the matter with the party and said the prosecutors’ “political attack” was partially to blame.

When the bribery allegations first surfaced in the media last month, both lawmakers denied any wrongdoing and refused calls to leave the party.

But the DP’s leadership reportedly nudged them to part ways with the DP, as prosecutors started to go full swing with their probe, casting a shadow over next year’s general election.

While parrying almost every question from the press on the duo’s leave Wednesday, the DP leader responded with references to fresh meddling allegations surrounding a senior secretary in the Yoon Suk Yeol presidential office and a lawmaker from Yoon's People Power Party (PPP).

When Lee Jae-myung was asked whether the party suggested the two DP lawmakers leave the party, he said, “How’s the recording issue with [PPP] Rep. Tae Yong-ho coming along? It seems like an evident crime.”

When asked what he thought about some DP lawmakers saying they should’ve left the party later after prosecutors made more progress in their probe, he replied, “Prosecutors will open an investigation into the Tae Yong-ho case? I heard it’s obligatory.”

JTBC on Monday aired a voice recording from Tae, who currently represents Gangnam District A in southern Seoul, that hinted at possible meddling from Lee Jin-book, President Yoon’s senior secretary for political affairs.

In the recording, Tae, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, said the senior secretary assured him of the PPP’s nomination in next year’s general election if he spoke positively about Yoon’s Japan policy.

The senior secretary Tuesday denied any attempts to interfere in the general election, saying he received two calls from Tae on Monday apologizing for the “exaggeration” he had made during conversations with his aides.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]