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| ▲ Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil speaks to reporters outside of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in Seoul on May 2, 2023. (Yonhap) |
ex-DP leader-probe
Prosecutors turn down embattled ex-DP leader Song's voluntary questioning
SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Song Young-gil, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), presented himself before prosecutors Tuesday for voluntary questioning about an election bribery scandal rocking the party, but prosecutors turned him down, citing scheduling issues.
Song has been under fire from in and outside of the DP over the scandal centering on allegations that his campaign officials distributed cash envelopes totaling 94 million won (US$70,245) to 10-20 DP lawmakers and other party members in the run-up to the party's national convention in May 2021.
Song won party chairmanship at the convention.
Song returned home last week from Paris, where he was a visiting professor at the ESCP Business School, and has since offered to voluntarily appear before prosecutors to undergo questioning, although he denies the allegations.
On Tuesday, Song showed up at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office and attempted to enter an investigation room, but prosecutors turned him back at the lobby.
Prosecutors said questioning of Song has yet to be scheduled.
"I ask prosecutors to stop pestering people around me and instead arrest me," Song said in a press conference outside of the prosecution office building.
"Once again, I am very sorry for the bribery scandal involving the DP national convention two years ago," he said, adding, "I am solely responsible for everything."
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