"Our Brother Talking Foolishly"... The Truth Behind 'Kim Geon-hee KakaoTalk' [AK Radio]

Myeong Taegyun, KakaoTalk Messages with First Lady Kim Geonhee Revealed
Presidential Office: "Oppa Refers to Mrs. Kim's Biological Brother"

Internal conflicts within the ruling party are escalating. Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, mentioned the 'Hannam-dong line' and demanded a personnel reshuffle in the presidential office. Myung Tae-kyun, a key figure in the 'Kim Geon-hee's nomination interference suspicion,' revealed KakaoTalk conversations exchanged with Mrs. Kim. This has caused ripples throughout the political sphere.

Leader Han recently told reporters, "It is not helpful to state that a line exists when the person in question does not hold a public position, and for the public to take this as a given fact," adding, "Such a line should not exist." He further argued, "To dispel the public's concerns and worries about Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, a personnel reshuffle in the presidential office is necessary." It is unusual for the ruling party leader to directly call for a personnel reshuffle in the presidential office.

In Hannam-dong, the residence of President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife is located, and the 'Hannam-dong line' collectively refers to individuals close to Mrs. Kim Geon-hee. In political circles, it is believed to include about seven current and former presidential secretaries and administrative officers. These individuals are generally known to have been acquainted with Mrs. Kim before she became First Lady, connected through cultural and artistic content projects, involved in the presidential campaign, or responsible for managing Mrs. Kim's schedule.

The controversy over the 'Hannam-dong line' goes beyond mere personal connections, expanding into suspicions that they may actually exert influence over state affairs. After the general election, rumors circulated about the possible appointment of former Minister Park Young-sun as Prime Minister and former Democratic Research Institute head Yang Jeong-cheol as chief of staff, with reports of message confusion within the presidential office supporting these suspicions.

Why did Leader Han bring up the 'Hannam-dong line' now? Various interpretations have emerged. Some see it as an effort to secure the centrist public's favor ahead of the by-elections while maintaining a certain distance from the president. Others believe it was brought to the forefront because suspicions related to Mrs. Kim Geon-hee have reached a critical point. Shin Ji-ho, deputy head of strategy planning for the People Power Party and a close associate of Han Dong-hoon, said, "It is painful for us to raise these issues publicly like this, but we have already reached a stage where public discussion is necessary," supporting this interpretation.

In response, the presidential office denied the existence of the 'Hannam-dong line' or any unofficial lines, stating, "Only the president's line exists." Politicians interpret this as a refusal to carry out the personnel reshuffle demanded by Leader Han. Kwon Seong-dong, a pro-Yoon Seok-yeol lawmaker, criticized, "This series of events is a buildup by the Democratic Party for impeachment, and Leader Han is foolishly following along."

Meanwhile, the KakaoTalk conversation between Mrs. Kim Geon-hee and Myung Tae-kyun, released on the morning of the 15th, sparked another wave of controversy. According to the disclosed content, Mrs. Kim said, "Please forgive our brother who speaks foolishly. I am embarrassed. It's natural to be ignorant sometimes." In response, Myung replied, "When I meet Joon-seok tomorrow, we will get a precise answer."

There was controversy over who the term 'oppa' (older brother) referred to in this conversation. Lawmaker Lee Jun-seok stated on social media, "I do not know any other person Mrs. Kim Geon-hee referred to as 'oppa,'" adding, "It is well known that 'oppa' was immature from the time of joining the party until the election." This implies that 'oppa' refers to President Yoon Seok-yeol.

On the other hand, the presidential office explained that 'oppa' referred to Mrs. Kim's biological older brother. They stated, "The 'oppa' mentioned in Myung Tae-kyun's KakaoTalk is not the president but Mrs. Kim Geon-hee's biological older brother, and the messages were private conversations before the president joined the party," adding, "The claim that the presidential couple spoke daily on speakerphone for six months is absurd."

This incident is causing ripples beyond internal conflicts within the ruling party, affecting the entire political arena. A private meeting between President Yoon and Leader Han is scheduled after the by-elections, and attention is focused on whether this will lead to reconciliation. However, depending on the election results, there may be disputes over responsibility. If the People Power Party suffers defeat, the conflict could intensify further.