"‘Myeong Taegyun List’ Political Fallout... Politicians from Both Parties Call It a 'Fictional Story'"

Including Yoon Seok-yeol, Oh Se-hoon, Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Du-kwan, and Lee Eon-ju
Kang Hye-kyung exposes Kim Gun-hee's nomination interference at the National Assembly audit

Kang Hye-kyung, who exposed First Lady Kim Geon-hee's interference in candidate selection and the illegal opinion poll allegations involving 'political broker' Myung Tae-gyun, has revealed a list of politicians linked to Myung. The list includes a large number of politicians from both ruling and opposition parties, as well as from inside and outside the National Assembly, raising expectations of a significant impact.

Kang Hye-kyung, who raised allegations of Kim Geon-hee's interference in candidate selection, is taking the witness oath at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

According to political circles on the 22nd, lawyer Roh Young-hee, representing Kang, disclosed the list containing individuals related to Myung to the National Assembly press corps the previous afternoon. The list includes President Yoon Seok-youl, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Gangwon Governor Kim Jin-tae, Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su, Changwon Mayor Hong Nam-pyo, Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il, Uiryeong County Chief Oh Tae-wan, People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun, Yoon Han-hong, Kim Eun-hye, Park Dae-chul, Kang Min-guk, Na Kyung-won, Cho Eun-hee, Ahn Cheol-soo, Seo Il-jun, former PPP lawmakers Ahn Hong-jun, Lee Ju-hwan, Kang Ki-yoon, Cho Myung-hee, Ha Tae-kyung, Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Eon-ju, former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan, former Justice Party lawmaker Yeo Young-guk, and former Tongyeong Deputy Mayor Lee Hak-seok, totaling 27 individuals.

Kang submitted this list to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. During the committee's audit the previous day, when asked if she could submit the list, Kang replied, "I will submit it separately later," adding, "It's not a deal, but these are figures related to Myung's Mirae Korea Research Institute." The Mirae Korea Research Institute is a polling firm that conducted numerous unpublished opinion polls during the 20th presidential election primaries and general election, in which President Yoon was elected. Myung is suspected of operating the Mirae Korea Research Institute under a false name.

The politicians included on the list immediately denied allegations of contact with Myung. Lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun said in a phone call that day, "This is a complete fictional story," and added, "I am currently considering how to respond." PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won also stated via social media that the claims were clear falsehoods and asserted that she was actually harmed during the 2021 Seoul mayoral primary and party leadership election. Opposition politicians also pushed back. A representative for lawmaker Lee Eon-ju explained, "When (the lawmaker) was in the PPP, she only heard about what kind of person Myung was," adding, "If you cut out the context and just release the name, everyone is made to look like a strange person." A representative for former lawmaker Kim Du-kwan said, "The staff who worked for him in the past have all quit. It is currently difficult to verify accurately."

If further revelations related to Myung emerge, the political impact is expected to grow even larger. The so-called 'Myung Tae-gyun list' surfaced after Myung recently told the media that he had dealings with more than 30 influential politicians. Kang's side stated that there are more politicians who contacted Myung beyond those disclosed on the list. Lawyer Roh said, "The number Myung mentioned is not accurate," and added, "There are more people connected to him through commissioned opinion polls."

Kang also revealed that First Lady Kim was involved in the candidate selection process. During the judiciary committee audit the previous day, Kang said, "The Mirae Korea Research Institute conducted 81 surveys, including published polls and internal opinion polls. Kim Geon-hee said she would provide money, so Myung went to collect it," adding, "Myung did not bring any money but secured the nomination of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun."