Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil applied to rejoin the party at the Incheon chapter. It came a week after he was acquitted in the second trial on Apr. 13 in the case of cash envelopes distributed at the party convention. Song said he will decide, in consultation with the party leadership, whether to run in the National Assembly by-elections set for June.
On the afternoon of the 20th, Song submitted his application to rejoin at the Democratic Party of Korea's Incheon chapter in Namdong-gu, Incheon. That day, Song visited the Incheon chapter with former lawmaker Youn Kwan-suk, who received a finalized two-year prison sentence at the Supreme Court in the same case.
After submitting the application, Song met with reporters and, when asked about the possibility of running in the by-election for Incheon Gyeyang B, said, "As someone who has served as party leader, I will of course make a decision in close consultation with Representative Jung Chung-rae and the leadership, including the Supreme Council," adding, "I spoke by phone with Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae and Chief of Staff to the party leader Han Min-su."
He added, "I expect Representative Jung will probably call me around next week. I will handle it after consulting then," and said, "My political home is the Democratic Party and Incheon. I submitted my application to rejoin at the Incheon chapter because I believe it is proper to meet and greet my Incheon comrades."
Asked about a potential bid for the next party leadership, he said, "I emptied my mind a lot during 11 months of life in prison," and added, "For the development of the Republic of Korea, the lives of 52 million people, and the peace of 80 million compatriots, I will help the government succeed wherever I am needed, regardless of rank or position."