Myeong Taegyun: "I'm Going to Burn All the Evidence Buried at My Father's Grave"

"Recording Provider Will Be Punished"

The Democratic Party of Korea released a recording presumed to be a phone call between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Mr. Myeong Tae-gyun, in which Mr. Myeong revealed that he had buried evidence at his father's grave and said he would burn it to destroy it.

On the 31st, Mr. Myeong said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "I buried (the evidence such as the cellphone) at my father's grave because it was the safest place," adding, "Today, I am going to burn everything. After burning and cleaning it up, if I have committed any crime, I will accept the consequences."

Myeong Taegyun. [Image source=Captured from Myeong's social networking service (SNS)]

Regarding the recording released by the Democratic Party, he said, "I have talked to the president more than once or twice, so how could I remember everything?" and "Isn't there no content in the middle at all?" He also suggested that the person who provided the recording is likely Mr. A, whom he hired, and said, "(Mr. A) will be punished later."

Earlier that day, the Democratic Party held an emergency press conference to release the recording presumed to be a call between President Yoon and Mr. Myeong. Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated, "According to the conversation obtained by the Democratic Party with President Yoon, the president said to Mr. Myeong, 'The Nomination Management Committee brought it to me, so since Kim Young-sun has been working hard since the primary, please do something for Kim Young-sun.'"

The Democratic Party claimed that the call took place on May 9, 2022, ahead of the 2022 parliamentary by-election in June, and that the People Power Party actually nominated former lawmaker Kim the following day.

Meanwhile, at 11:30 a.m. that day, the prosecution conducted an additional search of Mr. Myeong's residence. This was the second search of Mr. Myeong's home, following the one on the 30th of last month.