Yoon Recording Fallout... Civic Groups File Additional Prosecution Against President and Spouse, Myung Tae-gyun

Sasaehaeng, Yoon Seok-yeol Couple and Myeong Tae-gyun Additional Prosecutor's Office Complaint

As a recording file containing evidence of President Yoon Seok-yeol's involvement in the People Power Party's nomination process during a phone call with Mr. Myeong Tae-gyun was revealed through the Democratic Party's exposure, a civic group has additionally filed a complaint with the prosecution against President Yoon and his wife, Mr. Myeong, and others.

The civic group Judicial Justice Citizens' Action (Sasehaeng) held a press conference at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the afternoon of the 31st, announcing the filing of complaints against six individuals, including President Yoon and his wife, Mr. Myeong, former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun, Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, and People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, on charges including bribery after receiving undue benefits under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and violations of the Public Official Election Act.

Sasehaeng stated, "If the president received an illicit request before being elected, was provided with polling costs free of charge for the purpose of winning the election, utilized this for his victory, and after actually being elected, executed the illicit request received before the election, it could constitute bribery after receiving a bribe and subsequent fraudulent acts." They added, "The legal logic used by President Yoon when investigating and indicting former President Park Geun-hye for bribery is precisely implicit solicitation and comprehensive bribery."

They further emphasized, "President Yoon and his wife conspired to win the presidential election by receiving free use of the results of 80 opinion polls conducted at the expense of the Mirae Korea Research Institute, which was effectively operated by Mr. Myeong, who had a special relationship with them, and represented by former lawmaker Kim, and illegally intervened in the People Power Party's by-elections by nominating Kim as a reward." They also stated, "Lawmakers Lee, who stamped the nomination certificate as party leader, and Yoon, the nomination management committee chairman, must also bear criminal responsibility as accomplices in President Yoon's crimes."

Earlier, on the 23rd, Sasehaeng filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, alleging that Mr. Myeong conducted over 80 opinion polls worth approximately 370 million won at his own expense to support President Yoon's election and delivered the results of non-public polls to President Yoon. On September 23, they also filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) against President Yoon and his wife, former lawmaker Kim Young-sun, and Mr. Myeong Tae-gyun on charges including abuse of authority, obstruction of official duties, violations of the Public Official Election Act, and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act related to nomination interference allegations.