Minju: "Myeong Taegyun, Isn't He an Unelected Power Behind the Yoon Administration?"... Pressure for Kim Geonhee's Permanent Special Prosecutor

Suspicion is growing that Myung Tae-kyun, a key figure in the 'Kim Geon-hee First Lady Nomination Interference Allegation,' might be an unofficial power behind the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, have demanded a permanent special prosecutor to clarify various allegations surrounding First Lady Kim. The opposition emphasized that they will not stop their offensive against the government until the Yoon administration accepts the special prosecutor.

On the 10th, Roh Jong-myeon, a Democratic Party lawmaker, claimed that about 570,000 phone numbers of party members, including delegates, were leaked to Myung Tae-kyun during the 2021 People Power Party presidential primary when Yoon Seok-yeol was selected as the candidate. He stressed that it must be revealed whether Myung used the phone numbers he obtained through the Future Korea Research Institute, which he operates, to produce and utilize favorable poll results for then-candidate Yoon.

The Democratic Party of Korea submitted a permanent special prosecutor investigation request to the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office on the 8th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The opposition pressured for the implementation of a permanent special prosecutor. The permanent special prosecutor system, established in 2014 through bipartisan agreement, allows for the immediate activation of a special prosecutor without the need to propose a separate special prosecutor law. Since it is already legislated, it is not affected by the president's right to request reconsideration (veto power). On the same day, Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party floor leader, criticized at the National Assembly audit countermeasure meeting, saying, "Myung is blatantly threatening and defaming President Yoon and First Lady Kim with false information, so why is the presidential office remaining silent?"

Outside the National Assembly, a public campaign for President Yoon's impeachment is in full swing, centered on the progressive forces. On the 13th, Jeong Il-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker, along with Gu Bon-gi, co-representative of the Candlelight Action, and Park Chang-jin, representative of the Workers' Solidarity, will hold a 'Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment Candlelight Rally' in Songdo, Incheon. While the outside forces are raising the impeachment atmosphere, the Democratic Party internally, concerned about a backlash from impeachment, is focusing on First Lady Kim's permanent special prosecutor and strengthening their offensive against the government.