'Claiming Friendship with the Presidential Couple' Myung Taegyun... What Is He Holding in His Hand? [Q&A]

Amid Allegations of Kim Geon-hee's Nomination Interference
Attention on Kim Young-sun's Role in Nomination Process
Revealed Exchanges with President Yoon Seok-yeol and Spouse Before Presidential Election
"If I Speak Out, the World Will Be Turned Upside Down," Boasts Loudly

News related to Myung Tae-gyun is hitting the political world day after day. This controversy, which began with suspicions of Kim Geon-hee's interference in the general election nomination, is taking a new direction as Myung, known for political consulting using public opinion polls, is revealed to be a figure who exerted influence on President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife. An interesting point is that some involved parties partially acknowledge the facts related to Myung's statements. It is not a completely fabricated matter. This suspicion, which started with the controversy over former lawmaker Kim Young-sun's nomination process, is expected to focus on whether Mrs. Kim was involved in the overall nomination, what role Myung played in the last presidential election, and how much influence Myung exerted over the current government's administration. The series of controversies related to Myung, who is under investigation for violations such as political funding law related to former lawmaker Kim's nomination, is explained in a Q&A format.

Who is Myung Tae-gyun?

Born in 1970 in Changwon, Gyeongnam, Myung was once mistakenly known as a fortune teller but is known to have operated public opinion polling companies around Changwon and engaged in political consulting. Although he has only recently become known to the public, he is said to have wielded considerable influence in the local political scene. In particular, he expanded his involvement in politics by serving as chairman of the Mirae Korea Research Institute, established in 2018.

He recently became a hot topic due to allegations that he exerted influence in former lawmaker Kim's nomination for the Changwon Uichang district in the 2022 local elections. After becoming a figure in the news, he claimed through media contacts that he supported President Yoon in the last presidential election and helped Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election. The parties involved did not deny contact itself but drew a line by saying his role was not as significant as Myung claimed. However, Myung actually attended President Yoon's inauguration and exchanged contacts with him, including visits to the president's private residence during his private citizen days. He was sentenced to probation for fraud charges and fined for conducting election-related public opinion polls without proper qualifications.

What role did he play in the presidential election and others?

According to statements from various sources, it is clear that Myung had contact with President Yoon even before Yoon joined the People Power Party. Regarding this, Myung claims to have played significant roles at key moments such as the so-called "chimaek" (chicken and beer) meeting between President Yoon and Lee Jun-seok, the reform party lawmaker (then leader of the People Power Party), and the candidate unification process between President Yoon and Ahn Cheol-soo, a People Power Party lawmaker. The presidential office acknowledged that Myung met President Yoon in 2021 but said claims that he frequently visited Yoon's residence in Seocho-dong (Acro Vista) were exaggerated. Myung also claimed he was offered participation in the presidential transition committee and government posts after the election, but the presidential office denied this. However, in a JTBC interview, he said, "If I open my mouth, things will really be turned upside down. There are things I did during the presidential election," and "If I get in, this administration will collapse in a month." Although the reality is unclear, he suggested that he played a significant role in the presidential election and that the tasks he performed were controversial.

On July 25, 2021, Lee Jun-seok, a reform party lawmaker (then leader of the People Power Party), and President Yoon Seok-yeol (then former Prosecutor General) are heading to a restaurant in the Mat-ui Street area near Konkuk University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, for a 'chimaek meeting.' [Image source=Yonhap News]

What is the relationship between Kim Young-sun and Myung?

Myung explains that his relationship with former lawmaker Kim began when Kim, who hoped to run for governor of Gyeongnam in the 2018 local elections, asked for help. There are indications that Myung played a role in Kim's nomination process during the 2022 by-election. For example, Myung allegedly knew about Kim's nomination in advance and received half of Kim's salary after the by-election. An investigation is underway regarding this financial transaction. Kim's aides have admitted to handing over the salary, and prosecutors suspect it could be a bribe for nomination requests. According to prosecutors, since August 2022, Kim has been accused of giving about 60 million won to Myung (violation of the Political Funds Act). Myung claims he was repaid money he lent before the election.

Additionally, according to recordings released by Kim's aides, Myung pressured Kim to move his constituency to Gimhae Gap, known as a tough district for the ruling party, regarding the last general election. It is said that Kim's delayed decision endangered his nomination. The recordings also include Myung complaining that he threatened to "expose everything" to President Yoon and his wife during this process.

How did lawmaker Lee Jun-seok come to know Myung Tae-gyun?

Lawmaker Lee stated that he came to know Myung through former lawmaker Kim Young-sun shortly after the May 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election. There is also an explanation that Myung was involved when Lee met President Yoon, who had resigned as prosecutor general, around July 2021 after Lee became the leader of the People Power Party. However, there are differences between Lee's and Myung's claims. Myung claims he was present at meetings before Yoon joined the People Power Party, but Lee said Myung only played a role in the third meeting. Although there are differences in specific facts, Myung had a role in meetings between President Yoon and Lee, particularly regarding Yoon's entry into the People Power Party. After Lee left the People Power Party, he met with Kim Geon-hee regarding allegations of her interference in nominations during his time as leader of the Reform Party at Chilbulsa. However, the relationship soured when former lawmaker Kim demanded a high position on the proportional representation list in exchange for his expos?, which Lee rejected.

On March 3, 2022, President Yoon Seok-yeol (then the People Power Party presidential candidate) and Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party (then the People’s Party presidential candidate) shake hands after completing the unification press conference. [Image source=Yonhap News]

What is the relationship between Myung and President Yoon?

Myung claims that President Yoon contacted him through intermediaries and that their meetings were countless. According to interviews with Dong-A Ilbo and others, he claims to have advised on personnel matters such as the new government's cabinet formation and on how to manage people. However, he said there was no contact after the inauguration. This aligns largely with the presidential office's explanation.

However, according to reports by Channel A and others, Myung said, "If the prosecution arrests me, the president will be impeached within a month. Are you ready for that? If you are, go ahead." This implies that the prosecution must be prepared to investigate him because he holds information that could shake the administration. However, this statement has been inconsistent. Channel A also reported that after this remark, Myung contacted them and requested the article be deleted, saying it was "a joke."

What is the presidential office's stance on Myung's claims?

The presidential office recently denied any relationship with Myung more clearly. They stated, "President Yoon has not had contact with Myung since the final stages of the presidential primary." The office explained, "In early July 2021, before Yoon started his political career and joined the People Power Party, a senior party official (presumably Lee Jun-seok) came to his residence with Myung, and that was the first meeting." They added, "Shortly after, another People Power Party politician (presumably Park Wan-soo, governor of Gyeongnam) brought Myung to the residence for a second meeting. The president met these two politicians separately at home because they requested confidentiality, and Myung was not there due to a separate friendship with the president." They further explained, "After seeing Myung at the president's local campaign site, a People Power Party politician advised distancing from Myung. The president recalls no further text or phone contact with Myung."

What will happen going forward?

Since the claims of the parties involved differ, the controversy is expected to continue for some time. Lawmaker Lee Jun-seok has denied that he introduced Myung to President Yoon, releasing text messages with Myung to support his claim. According to the messages Lee disclosed, Myung told him, "Representative, you can call Prosecutor General Yoon at 8 a.m. tomorrow," which contradicts the notion that Lee introduced Myung to President Yoon. Moreover, the presidential office's explanation only addresses the relationship between President Yoon and Myung, without additional details about contacts between Mrs. Kim and Myung. Media reports already suggest that Myung maintained contact with Mrs. Kim even after the presidential election. Regarding contact with President Yoon, the office only states that they "do not recall any such contact," rather than clarifying the facts definitively.