Kang Hye-kyung: "Myeong Tae-gyun's Nomination Business Involves at Least 10 People... Manipulating Public Opinion to Please Yoon"

Future Korea Research Institute Staff Claims on CBS Radio
"Will Accept if Prosecution Proposes Confrontation Interrogation"

Myung Tae-gyun, a key figure suspected of interfering in the nomination process involving President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife, is alleged to have engaged in so-called 'nomination trading' with at least 10 people.

Kang Hye-kyung, an employee of the Future Korea Research Institute and former aide to former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun, appeared on CBS Radio on the 20th and revealed that there are "at least about eight more people" who were targets of Myung's nomination trading. Previously, two prospective candidates were booked by the prosecution on charges of handing over money in exchange for a promised nomination from Myung. This means there are a total of 10 prospective candidates involved.

The prosecution stated in the arrest warrant that Myung received a total of 240 million won in cash, 120 million won each, from Bae, who hoped to run for the Goryeong County governor election in North Gyeongsang Province ahead of the June 2022 local elections, and Lee, who intended to run for the Daegu City Council.

Myeong Tae-gyun, a key figure in the allegations of Kim Geon-hee's involvement in candidate selection and the illegal opinion poll allegations of the Future Korea Research Institute, is seen leaving the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office in Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam Province on the afternoon of the 8th. Photo by Yonhap News

Kang's remarks suggest the possibility of additional individuals who handed money to Myung. Regarding this, Kang claimed, "(Myung) verbally promised the two individuals currently directly mentioned that if he provided independent funds, such as for the presidential election opinion polls, there would be no problem with their nominations." However, the two mentioned in the arrest warrant were eliminated from the local election nominations.

Kang also asserted that Myung delivered unpublished opinion polls from the Future Korea Research Institute to President Yoon Seok-yeol's side. When asked why Myung manipulated the unpublished opinion polls, Kang said, "It was to raise Yoon Seok-yeol's approval rating and slightly boost morale," adding, "It was to please the campaign officials, and from Myung Tae-gyun's perspective, he needed to show favor to Yoon Seok-yeol." Regarding whether there was manipulation of opinion polls during the presidential election itself, Kang said, "It has not been confirmed."

There are also claims that Myung manipulated opinion polls and provided them to politicians in other cases.

Kang said, "It is difficult to point out exactly who, but there are several cases of manipulation." Regarding suspicions that Myung was deeply involved in the selection process of the Changwon National Industrial Complex and intervened in profit-making projects, Kang said, "(Myung) asked me to create an image that he was seeking help from First Lady Kim Keon-hee, so I made one," adding, "Regarding the nominee land speculation related to the national industrial complex, Myung did not have money at that time to buy land under a nominee name, but he continuously encouraged me and others around him to buy land as the industrial complex was going to be established."

Meanwhile, the prosecution arrested former lawmaker Kim Young-sun on the 15th on charges of handing over a total of 76.2 million won in salary to Myung over 16 occasions. In response to a question about whether she would accept the prosecution's proposal for a confrontation interrogation with Myung, Kang answered, "I would accept."

She continued, "There are differences between what I feel during the prosecution investigation and what is reported in the media," emphasizing, "The core issue is the Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Keon-hee couple. This part must be thoroughly investigated."