Hong Jun-pyo: "Myeong Tae-gyun is an election broker... Prosecution should investigate without hesitation"

"Must Stop the Spread of Copycat Election Brokers"

Regarding Myung Tae-gyun, identified as a key figure in the suspicion of Kim Geon-hee's interference in candidate selection, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo stated, "The prosecution must investigate all allegations without exception."

On the same day, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "A problematic figure, initially blocked from access, is now shaking the ruling party," adding, "I knew the election broker who carried out manipulated polls and frequented various election camps would cause trouble someday, but I did not expect the fallout to be this large."

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu. [Photo by Yonhap News]

He said, "Most of the ruling party figures involved were victims of the election broker," and added, "It would be better to honestly admit the facts rather than deny and escalate the issue. Since legal action is inevitable, the person will likely continue false and exaggerated revelations regardless of the truth to save themselves. We should promptly investigate to uncover the truth and prevent such election brokers from running rampant in politics again."

Furthermore, he added, "'No politician in South Korea fails to recognize me, but only Representative Hong ignores and dismisses me,' grumbled the election broker Mr. Myung, who did not expect the problem to escalate this much."

Finally, Mayor Hong urged the prosecution, saying, "Do not hesitate and investigate. Clean it up thoroughly without leaving any embers. That is the role of the prosecution."

Meanwhile, Mr. Myung recently claimed in a media interview that he met President Yoon and his wife several times during the last presidential election to provide political advice and received an offer for a public office position after the election. The allegations that Mr. Myung provided polls to President Yoon during the election and that Mrs. Kim intervened in the 2022 National Assembly by-election candidate selection at Mr. Myung's request are currently under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

However, the Presidential Office has denied allegations of communication with Mr. Myung. They stated that the first meeting with Mr. Myung occurred during the last presidential election when a senior official and a politician from the People Power Party visited Mr. Myung's residence together, and that there has been no communication since then.