‘Nomination Interference Allegations’ Myeong Taegyun and Kim Youngseon Head to Trial … Myeong Requests “Special Prosecutor”

Myung Tae-gyun, who was under arrest and investigation on suspicion of money transactions in exchange for nomination, and former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun have ultimately been brought to trial.

The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office in Gyeongnam announced on the afternoon of the 3rd that Myung and the former lawmaker were indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

The same charges were applied to A, a preliminary candidate for Goryeong County governor in North Gyeongsang Province during the June 2022 local elections, and B, a preliminary candidate for Daegu City Council, who were also indicted without detention.

Kim Tae-yeol, former director of the Mirae Korea Research Institute, who is suspected of being involved in Myung receiving money from A and B, was also indicted.

Regarding Kang Hye-kyung, the former lawmaker Kim’s accounting manager who raised the allegations, a decision on whether to indict has not yet been made.

Myeong Taekyun (left), who is accused of violating the Political Funds Act, and former lawmaker Kim Youngseon appeared at the Changwon District Court in Gyeongnam to undergo a pre-arrest interrogation. Photo by Lee Seryeong

Myung and former lawmaker Kim are accused of exchanging 80.7 million won in salaries from August 2022 to November 2023 as a bribe for recommending Kim as the candidate for the National Assembly election in Changwon Uichang district.

Myung is also accused of receiving about 240 million won from preliminary candidates A and B, who were preparing to run in the June 2022 local elections, in exchange for nomination support.

An additional charge of instructing evidence concealment was added related to allegations that he ordered his brother-in-law to dispose of his mobile phone and other items ahead of a search and seizure.

The prosecution believes that Myung flaunted his connections with key political figures, including President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, and received money from former lawmaker Kim, A, B, and others using nomination as bait.

Immediately after the indictment, Myung issued a statement through his lawyer requesting a special prosecutor.

He said, “During the prosecution investigation, it was confirmed that all the money flowed to Kang Hye-kyung, Kim Tae-yeol, and the Mirae Korea Research Institute, and that the money was used for their private interests. The prosecution has not presented even 1% evidence that Myung Tae-gyun is the actual owner of the Mirae Korea Research Institute.”

“Nevertheless, they indicted me, making me out to be a petty criminal who took bribes in exchange for nomination and started scapegoating. Although I may not be a proud father to my five-year-old daughter, I have resolved not to be a shameful father. I strongly request a special prosecutor,” he said.

In addition to charges of violating the Political Funds Act, the prosecution is also investigating allegations of manipulation of public opinion polls during the 2022 presidential and local elections, interference in nominations, involvement in the site selection for the Changwon 2nd National Industrial Complex, recruitment solicitation suspicions, and Kang’s suspected violation of the Political Funds Act.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.