Democratic Party Submits Disciplinary Proposal Against Yoon Han-hong of Ruling Party: "Yoon Contacted Myung Tae-gyun to Persuade"

Park Sung-jun "Myeong's Persuasion and Deal... Serious Matter"
No Jong-myeon "Legal Review and Possible Legal Action Planned"

The Democratic Party of Korea has submitted a disciplinary proposal against Yoon Han-hong, a member of the People Power Party. This was because Yoon reportedly attempted to quell the situation the day after the Democratic Party released the recorded conversation between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Mr. Myeong Tae-gyun. The Democratic Party believes that Yoon tried to 'persuade' Mr. Myeong.

Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party's Deputy Floor Leader for Operations, and Noh Jong-myeon, the party's floor spokesperson, submitted the disciplinary proposal to the National Assembly's legislative affairs office on the afternoon of the 20th. After submitting the proposal, Park told reporters, "The recording of President Yoon and Mr. Myeong was released on the 31st of last month, and Yoon contacted Mr. Myeong to persuade him," adding, "He told Mr. Myeong to release certain recordings first and not to disclose others, so this can be seen as a serious matter involving both persuasion and even a deal."

Yonhap News

The 17-second recording released by the Democratic Party on the 31st of last month contains audio from May 9, 2022, in which President Yoon says to Mr. Myeong, "'Since Kim Young-seon worked hard from the primary election, please do something for Kim Young-seon,' but there is a lot of talk about it within the party," and Mr. Myeong responds in the recording, "I will never forget this lifelong favor." The People Power Party's Public Official Recommendation Committee announced on May 10 of that year that former lawmaker Kim would be the sole candidate for the June by-election in Uichang District, Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province.

Spokesperson Noh said after submitting the disciplinary proposal, "We believe attention should be paid to 'Yoon Hae-gwan' (a key associate of President Yoon Seok-yeol), as represented by Yoon," and added, "I think those at the core of the administration already know that the president is lying but are deceiving as if it is not true." He continued, "Our primary stance is that disciplinary action against Yoon is necessary," and "Once the party's legal review is complete, we plan to take legal action as well."

Yoon Han-hong, Chairman of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee (center), and Kang Min-guk of the People Power Party and Kang Jun-hyun of the Democratic Party, the floor leaders of both parties, are conversing at the full meeting of the Political Affairs Committee held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Earlier, a media outlet reported that Yoon contacted Mr. Myeong's side on the 1st. According to the report, Yoon requested the release of a recording in which President Yoon tells Mr. Myeong to 'cut ties.'